A charter plane with 303 Indian passengers on board was kept grounded in France for four days over suspicions of human trafficking.&nbsp;

Among them, 276 passengers of the Airbus A340, on its way to Nicaragua, returned to India, while 25 chose to remain in France, seeking asylum. As the controversy over the alleged human trafficking angle gained prominence in both France and India, the name of a notorious human smuggler from&nbsp;south Indian city of Hyderabad has come to light.

Reports citing Indian security agencies have claimed that Shashi Kiran Reddy, the alleged kingpin of last year's tragic Dingucha case, is likely the mastermind behind the latest case of alleged human trafficking.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-plane-row-25-held-in-france-freed-mumbai-spl-igp-seeks-probe-into-trafficking-angle-674204">France plane row: 25 held in France freed; Mumbai Spl IGP seeks probe into trafficking angle</a>

<h2>Who is Shashi Kiran Reddy?</h2>

Shashi Kiran Reddy made news last year over his alleged hand in the Dingucha case, where a&nbsp;Gujarati family of four was found frozen to death in Canada near the US border.

Reddy was connected to the 'donkey' journey. However, he was let off by the Gujarat police due to a lack of evidence. Now, his name has once again cropped up in connection to the alleged 'donkey flight'.

As per reports, 96 of the passengers aboard the Nicaragua-bound Airbus A340 flight were from Gujarat.

The Times of India citing sources reported that in the last two months, Reddy has sent around 800 illegal Indian immigrants to Nicaragua, posing as tourists.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-plane-row-indian-police-forms-teams-to-bust-illegal-immigration-673925">France plane row: Indian police form teams to bust illegal immigration network</a>

"Earlier, he sent them on 50-seater flights that halted at Vatry airport. However, recently, French authorities refused to allow one such flight to halt at Vatry airport, and it returned to Dubai. So, Reddy arranged for an aircraft with 300 passengers, assuming it will be allowed to halt and refuel," reported the publication, quoting an unnamed source.

The source also told TOI that on the recent Nicaragua-bound flight, there were passengers who could not make it to Nicaragua previously. As per CNBC, in recent times, Nicaragua has emerged as a popular destination for those seeking asylum in the US.

<h2>The Dingucha case&nbsp;</h2>

In January 2022, a family of four from Dingucha village, in India's Gujarat, were found frozen to death in Canada's Manitoba. The family — a couple and their two minor children — was reportedly attempting to enter the United States illegally.

Jagdish Patel, his wife Vaishali, and their children Dharmik and Vihangi, as per a Times of India report, were told to walk in -35&nbsp;°C temperature to evade arrest by the Canadian or US Security agencies.&nbsp;

"Follow the lights of an American gas station because you will find no navigation available in the dark and extreme weather," they were told.

As per TOI, it was found that the victim Jagdish's brother Mahendra, along with Reddy, had coordinated the family's illegal entry into the US with human smugglers.

"Reddy had prepared the documents of Jagdish and his family and coordinated with offshore human smugglers to help them cross the US border." Along with Reddy, three other people were arrested in the case.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

A charter plane with 303 Indian passengers on board was kept grounded in France for four days over suspicions of human trafficking. Among them, 276 passengers of the Airbus A340, on its way to Nicaragua, returned to India, while 25 chose to remain in France, seeking asylum.

A charter plane with 303 Indian passengers on board was kept grounded in France for four days over suspicions of human trafficking. Among them, 276 passengers of the Airbus A340, on its way to Nicaragua, returned to India, while 25 chose to remain in France, seeking asylum. As the controversy over the alleged human trafficking angle gained prominence in both France and India, the name of a notorious human smuggler from south Indian city of Hyderabad has come to light. Reports citing Indian security agencies have claimed that Shashi Kiran Reddy, the alleged kingpin of last year's tragic Dingucha case, is likely the mastermind behind the latest case of alleged human trafficking. Also read | France plane row: 25 held in France freed; Mumbai Spl IGP seeks probe into trafficking angle Who is Shashi Kiran Reddy? Shashi Kiran Reddy made news last year over his alleged hand in the Dingucha case, where a Gujarati family of four was found frozen to death in Canada near the US border. Reddy was connected to the 'donkey' journey. However, he was let off by the Gujarat police due to a lack of evidence. Now, his name has once again cropped up in connection to the alleged 'donkey flight'. As per reports, 96 of the passengers aboard the Nicaragua-bound Airbus A340 flight were from Gujarat. The Times of India citing sources reported that in the last two months, Reddy has sent around 800 illegal Indian immigrants to Nicaragua, posing as tourists. Also read | France plane row: Indian police form teams to bust illegal immigration network "Earlier, he sent them on 50-seater flights that halted at Vatry airport. However, recently, French authorities refused to allow one such flight to halt at Vatry airport, and it returned to Dubai. So, Reddy arranged for an aircraft with 300 passengers, assuming it will be allowed to halt and refuel," reported the publication, quoting an unnamed source. The source also told TOI that on the recent Nicaragua-bound flight, there were passengers who could not make it to Nicaragua previously. As per CNBC, in recent times, Nicaragua has emerged as a popular destination for those seeking asylum in the US. The Dingucha case In January 2022, a family of four from Dingucha village, in India's Gujarat, were found frozen to death in Canada's Manitoba. The family — a couple and their two minor children — was reportedly attempting to enter the United States illegally. Jagdish Patel, his wife Vaishali, and their children Dharmik and Vihangi, as per a Times of India report, were told to walk in -35 °C temperature to evade arrest by the Canadian or US Security agencies. "Follow the lights of an American gas station because you will find no navigation available in the dark and extreme weather," they were told. As per TOI, it was found that the victim Jagdish's brother Mahendra, along with Reddy, had coordinated the family's illegal entry into the US with human smugglers. "Reddy had prepared the documents of Jagdish and his family and coordinated with offshore human smugglers to help them cross the US border." Along with Reddy, three other people were arrested in the case. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Shashi Kiran Reddy, the alleged mastermind behind human trafficking flight?

The 'donkey flight' saga is getting murkier by the day. An alleged human trafficking flight ferrying more than 300 Indians to Nicaragua, as per reports, also had a two-year-old boy from the Indian state of Gujarat, now untraceable.&nbsp;

<h2>Missing toddler</h2>

The Gujarat police, as per reports, have launched an investigation to trace the missing toddler and identify his parents or guardian. They are seeking to unravel the mystery of whether the young child born on August 2, 2021, was part of a complex plan orchestrated by human smugglers, and whether he faces a fate similar to the many children abandoned at the US-Canada border.

A Gujarat police CID officer, as per a Times of India report, said: "We have been trying to locate the child and his parents or guardians as many families have left their homes in north Gujarat."

Quoting an anonymous source, the publication reported&nbsp;that agents from Gujarat's Mehsana and Gandhinagar often establish fake families, with people posing as a couple carrying someone else's child to facilitate illegal emigrations.

This reportedly eased the process of obtaining US asylum, as "a couple with children is likely to get US asylum more easily."

Along with the two-year-old, there were three other unaccompanied minors, a 10-year-old and two 17-year-olds.&nbsp;

As per US Customs and Border Protection data, between 2020 and 2023, a record 730 unaccompanied Indian minors were abandoned at the US borders, a 233 per cent increase from 2020.

<h2>Background: The flight and alleged human trafficking</h2>

On December 21, 303 Indian passengers boarded a Legend Airlines' A340 flight operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines in Dubai. The plane had stopped in Vatry, France for refuelling, where, based on a tip-off that alleged the plane was carrying suspected victims of trafficking, it was grounded for four days.

Later, the charge of human trafficking, as per AFP, was dropped after it was established the passengers had boarded the plane of their own free will.

The 'donkey flight' saga is getting murkier by the day. An alleged human trafficking flight ferrying more than 300 Indians to Nicaragua, as per reports, also had a two-year-old boy from the Indian state of Gujarat, now untraceable.

The 'donkey flight' saga is getting murkier by the day. An alleged human trafficking flight ferrying more than 300 Indians to Nicaragua, as per reports, also had a two-year-old boy from the Indian state of Gujarat, now untraceable. Missing toddler The Gujarat police, as per reports, have launched an investigation to trace the missing toddler and identify his parents or guardian. They are seeking to unravel the mystery of whether the young child born on August 2, 2021, was part of a complex plan orchestrated by human smugglers, and whether he faces a fate similar to the many children abandoned at the US-Canada border. A Gujarat police CID officer, as per a Times of India report, said: "We have been trying to locate the child and his parents or guardians as many families have left their homes in north Gujarat." Quoting an anonymous source, the publication reported that agents from Gujarat's Mehsana and Gandhinagar often establish fake families, with people posing as a couple carrying someone else's child to facilitate illegal emigrations. This reportedly eased the process of obtaining US asylum, as "a couple with children is likely to get US asylum more easily." Along with the two-year-old, there were three other unaccompanied minors, a 10-year-old and two 17-year-olds. As per US Customs and Border Protection data, between 2020 and 2023, a record 730 unaccompanied Indian minors were abandoned at the US borders, a 233 per cent increase from 2020. Background: The flight and alleged human trafficking On December 21, 303 Indian passengers boarded a Legend Airlines' A340 flight operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines in Dubai. The plane had stopped in Vatry, France for refuelling, where, based on a tip-off that alleged the plane was carrying suspected victims of trafficking, it was grounded for four days. Later, the charge of human trafficking, as per AFP, was dropped after it was established the passengers had boarded the plane of their own free will.

France plane row: Indian police search for missing 2-year-old from alleged 'donkey flight'

Twenty-five Indian passengers from the plane grounded in France over suspicions of human trafficking were freed by a judge on Tuesday (Dec 27). This comes, as in India, a day after 276 passengers of the same plane landed in Mumbai, the Special Inspector General of Police (Prevention of Crimes against Women and Children), Maharashtra wrote to the Mumbai police, requesting an investigation into the allegation angle.

<h2>25 freed in France&nbsp;</h2>

Of the 303 passengers abroad in the aeroplane, 25 had stayed back in France. They had applied for political asylum.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-plane-row-indian-police-forms-teams-to-bust-illegal-immigration-673925">France plane row: Indian police form teams to bust illegal immigration network</a>

&nbsp;

A Judge, on Tuesday, ordered their release on formal grounds. As per prosecutors, this was done considering that the head of the border police at France's main Charles de Gaulle airport "had not referred the case" to the judge within the timeframe stipulated by law.&nbsp;

The Bobigny prosecutor office also said that "they (the passengers) are therefore free to do as they please, even if they are in an irregular situation on French territory."

Among the passengers who stayed in France were five minors, who have now been taken into the care of child welfare services.

<h2>Mumbai&nbsp;to investigate human trafficking angle</h2>

Writing to the Mumbai police, Mumbai special IGP, IPS officer Deepak Pandey, as per a Times of India report, asked them to inform his office about the probe. He also asked the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officials, who had reportedly interrogated the passengers on their arrival back to the country, to submit detailed reports to city police within 24 hours. &nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/plane-held-in-france-with-303-indian-passengers-onboard-departs-for-mumbai-673434">Plane with Indians grounded in France lands in Mumbai, only 276 passengers return</a>

A plane carrying 276 people landed back in India on Tuesday (Dec 26). Before their release, the passengers were questioned by immigration and law enforcement agencies. However, as per the Sahar police, no case was registered because the immigration officers did not lodge a complaint.

<h2>Background: The flight and alleged human trafficking</h2>

On December 21, 303 Indian passengers had boarded a Legend Airlines' A340 flight operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines in Dubai. The plane had stopped in Vatry, France for refuelling, where, based on a tip-off that alleged the plane was carrying suspected victims of trafficking, it was grounded for four days.

Later, the charge of human trafficking, as per AFP, was dropped after it was established the passengers had boarded the plane of their own free will.

(With inputs from agencies)

Twenty-five Indian passengers from the plane grounded in France over suspicions of human trafficking were freed by a judge on Tuesday (Dec 27). This comes, as in India, a day after 276 passengers of the same plane landed in Mumbai, the Special Inspector General of Police (Prevention of Crimes against Women and Children), Maharashtra wrote to the Mumbai police, requesting an investigation into the allegation angle.

Twenty-five Indian passengers from the plane grounded in France over suspicions of human trafficking were freed by a judge on Tuesday (Dec 27). This comes, as in India, a day after 276 passengers of the same plane landed in Mumbai, the Special Inspector General of Police (Prevention of Crimes against Women and Children), Maharashtra wrote to the Mumbai police, requesting an investigation into the allegation angle. 25 freed in France Of the 303 passengers abroad in the aeroplane, 25 had stayed back in France. They had applied for political asylum. Also read | France plane row: Indian police form teams to bust illegal immigration network A Judge, on Tuesday, ordered their release on formal grounds. As per prosecutors, this was done considering that the head of the border police at France's main Charles de Gaulle airport "had not referred the case" to the judge within the timeframe stipulated by law. The Bobigny prosecutor office also said that "they (the passengers) are therefore free to do as they please, even if they are in an irregular situation on French territory." Among the passengers who stayed in France were five minors, who have now been taken into the care of child welfare services. Mumbai to investigate human trafficking angle Writing to the Mumbai police, Mumbai special IGP, IPS officer Deepak Pandey, as per a Times of India report, asked them to inform his office about the probe. He also asked the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officials, who had reportedly interrogated the passengers on their arrival back to the country, to submit detailed reports to city police within 24 hours. Also read | Plane with Indians grounded in France lands in Mumbai, only 276 passengers return A plane carrying 276 people landed back in India on Tuesday (Dec 26). Before their release, the passengers were questioned by immigration and law enforcement agencies. However, as per the Sahar police, no case was registered because the immigration officers did not lodge a complaint. Background: The flight and alleged human trafficking On December 21, 303 Indian passengers had boarded a Legend Airlines' A340 flight operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines in Dubai. The plane had stopped in Vatry, France for refuelling, where, based on a tip-off that alleged the plane was carrying suspected victims of trafficking, it was grounded for four days. Later, the charge of human trafficking, as per AFP, was dropped after it was established the passengers had boarded the plane of their own free will. (With inputs from agencies)

France plane row: 25 held in France freed; Mumbai Spl IGP seeks probe into trafficking angle

The police in the Indian state of Gujarat have formed teams to bust a suspected illegal immigration network involving "agents" and will coordinate with passengers of the plane that landed in Mumbai from France on Tuesday, a senior officer said. He said many passengers hail from Gujarat.

The plane, an Airbus A340, carrying 276 passengers, mostly Indians, was grounded in France for four days over suspected human trafficking. It landed in Mumbai in the early hours on Tuesday, an official said. Speaking about the incident, Superintendent of Police, CID (Crime) Sanjay Kharat said, "The CID crime wants to take action against agents who had promised help to the victims to enter the US and other countries (illegally). We have formed four teams which will get information from the victims regarding the promises made to them by these agents."&nbsp;

He added that most of the passengers present on the chartered plane, which had returned from France, were from districts of Patan, Mehsana, Banaskantha and Anand.

"Police will coordinate with the passengers when they reach Gujarat from Mumbai to find out the agents and agencies involved and whether documents provided to them to migrate to the US and other countries were forged," Kharat said.

The SP said that the police officials will also make efforts to learn about the number of people who have flown abroad in a similar way as well as those who have been seeking to travel in this manner.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-grounds-plane-filled-with-300-indians-over-suspected-human-trafficking-672603">France grounds plane, filled with 303 Indians, over suspected 'human trafficking'</a>

He added that the CID so far has "raw information" about the agents who were involved in sending the Indians abroad and will try to gather more information by questioning the concerned passengers.

Kharat said that different agents, who have been involved in illegal immigration work, have been working in tandem. "The agents working at the village and district levels are small players controlled by the kingpin who works at the international level," he said.

He said that the investigation will be carried out by the Gujarat police and they will try to understand how the agents operate.

"Different agencies use different modus operandi based on the requirement of persons seeking to migrate like whether they require forged documents etc., and rates are fixed accordingly," said the SP, further stating that they will question the victims and the police will try to reach the kingpin.

Romanian charter company Legend Airlines was operating the charter flight - which was bound for Nicaragua from Dubai - and had landed at Vatry, close to Paris, for a technical stopover when it was detained by the French police.

Watch:&nbsp;India-France row: Gujarat police forms teams to probe suspected 'illegal migration'&nbsp;

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A judicial investigation was launched by the French authorities into the purpose and conditions of the trip. Meanwhile, a unit, which specialises in organised crime investigation, suspected human trafficking.

<h2>'Most fliers had return tickets', says lawyer</h2>

Meanwhile, the lawyer of the airline Liliana Bakayoko, while speaking to NDTV on Tuesday (Dec 26), said, "I am the lawyer of the company. My colleagues who defended the passengers before the judge told the media that the passengers they defended all had return tickets. They had hotel reservations and return tickets... I don't know for when, actually. But not for the next day."

While speaking about reports suggesting that only 12 of the 303 passengers had a return ticket, the lawyer said, "The company's aeroplane was hired by a client, which is a foreign company, to perform such flights. According to my colleagues in France, all the passengers they defended, almost all of them had return tickets and hotel reservations. But it is true that only three passengers were heard by the judge."

(With inputs from agencies)

The police in the Indian state of Gujarat have formed teams to bust a suspected illegal immigration network involving "agents" and will coordinate with passengers of the plane that landed in Mumbai from France on Tuesday, a senior officer said.

The police in the Indian state of Gujarat have formed teams to bust a suspected illegal immigration network involving "agents" and will coordinate with passengers of the plane that landed in Mumbai from France on Tuesday, a senior officer said. He said many passengers hail from Gujarat. The plane, an Airbus A340, carrying 276 passengers, mostly Indians, was grounded in France for four days over suspected human trafficking. It landed in Mumbai in the early hours on Tuesday, an official said. Speaking about the incident, Superintendent of Police, CID (Crime) Sanjay Kharat said, "The CID crime wants to take action against agents who had promised help to the victims to enter the US and other countries (illegally). We have formed four teams which will get information from the victims regarding the promises made to them by these agents." He added that most of the passengers present on the chartered plane, which had returned from France, were from districts of Patan, Mehsana, Banaskantha and Anand. "Police will coordinate with the passengers when they reach Gujarat from Mumbai to find out the agents and agencies involved and whether documents provided to them to migrate to the US and other countries were forged," Kharat said. The SP said that the police officials will also make efforts to learn about the number of people who have flown abroad in a similar way as well as those who have been seeking to travel in this manner. Also read: France grounds plane, filled with 303 Indians, over suspected 'human trafficking' He added that the CID so far has "raw information" about the agents who were involved in sending the Indians abroad and will try to gather more information by questioning the concerned passengers. Kharat said that different agents, who have been involved in illegal immigration work, have been working in tandem. "The agents working at the village and district levels are small players controlled by the kingpin who works at the international level," he said. He said that the investigation will be carried out by the Gujarat police and they will try to understand how the agents operate. "Different agencies use different modus operandi based on the requirement of persons seeking to migrate like whether they require forged documents etc., and rates are fixed accordingly," said the SP, further stating that they will question the victims and the police will try to reach the kingpin. Romanian charter company Legend Airlines was operating the charter flight - which was bound for Nicaragua from Dubai - and had landed at Vatry, close to Paris, for a technical stopover when it was detained by the French police. Watch: India-France row: Gujarat police forms teams to probe suspected 'illegal migration' A judicial investigation was launched by the French authorities into the purpose and conditions of the trip. Meanwhile, a unit, which specialises in organised crime investigation, suspected human trafficking. 'Most fliers had return tickets', says lawyer Meanwhile, the lawyer of the airline Liliana Bakayoko, while speaking to NDTV on Tuesday (Dec 26), said, "I am the lawyer of the company. My colleagues who defended the passengers before the judge told the media that the passengers they defended all had return tickets. They had hotel reservations and return tickets... I don't know for when, actually. But not for the next day." While speaking about reports suggesting that only 12 of the 303 passengers had a return ticket, the lawyer said, "The company's aeroplane was hired by a client, which is a foreign company, to perform such flights. According to my colleagues in France, all the passengers they defended, almost all of them had return tickets and hotel reservations. But it is true that only three passengers were heard by the judge." (With inputs from agencies)

France plane row: Indian police form teams to bust illegal immigration network

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Who is Shashi Kiran Reddy, the alleged mastermind behind human trafficking flight?

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France plane row: 25 held in France freed; Mumbai Spl IGP seeks probe into trafficking angle

France plane row: Indian police form teams to bust illegal immigration network