The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) plans to request an Interpol Red Notice against three individuals accused of participating in a human trafficking network. This network allegedly deceived Indians by offering them lucrative employment opportunities in Moscow, only to push them into the Russia-Ukraine war zone, officials reported. 

The central probe agency is seeking the custodial interrogation of Ramesh Kumar Palanisamy, an alleged hawala operator, Mohammad Moinuddin Chippa, both believed to be in Russia, and Faisal Abdul Mutalib Khan, thought to be in the UAE, to uncover the conspiracy, officials said. 

An Interpol Red Notice is a request to the law enforcement agencies of 196 member countries to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. The CBI aims to extradite the three accused so they can face legal proceedings and participate in the investigation. 

In March, the CBI dismantled significant human trafficking networks operating across the country. These networks were allegedly deceiving Indian youths with promises of lucrative foreign jobs, only to push them to the Russia-Ukraine war front. 

The agency has filed an FIR against several organisations and individuals, including 24x7 RAS Overseas Foundation, KG Marg, and its Director Suyash Mukut; O.S.D Bros Travels & Visa Services Pvt Ltd., Mumbai, and its Director Rakesh Pandey; Adventure Visa Services Pvt Ltd., Chandigarh, Punjab, and its Director Manjeet Singh; and Baba Vlogs Overseas Recruitment Solutions Pvt Ltd., Dubai, and its Director Faisal Abdul Mutalib Khan, also known as Baba. 

The CBI uncovered that Faisal Abdul Mutalib Khan, based in Dubai, allegedly used his YouTube channel to lure Indians with promises of well-paying jobs in the Russian army, as security guards, or as helpers, without disclosing the true nature of these jobs. 

Over the past three months, the CBI found that Khan directed interested individuals to contact Mohammad Sufiyan and Pooja, who then instructed the aspirants to deposit money into accounts linked to Baba Vlogs, Sufiyan, Moinuddin Chhipa, and Sadiq Chhipa, and to submit their passports to Cosmo Travels Pvt. Ltd. for tourist visa arrangements, promising future work visas. 

These job seekers were told to reach Chennai Airport, where they received their passports and contact details for Nijil Jobi Bensam and Ramesh Kumar Palanisamy in Moscow. Upon arrival in Russia, the candidates were kept in a house and deceptively made to sign contracts for the Russian Army, eventually being sent to the Russia-Ukraine war zone. In Russia, Moinuddin also began extorting money from the victims, threatening to send them to the war zone if they didn't pay. 

The CBI discovered 35 cases of youths being lured to Russia through social media channels like YouTube and local contacts and agents, with promises of high-paying jobs. The victims were trained in combat roles, provided with Russian army uniforms and badges, and then deployed to front bases in the war zone against their will, putting their lives in severe danger, according to the CBI FIR. 

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