Delhi High Court urges Centre to act swiftly for return of Indian student detained in Ukraine

The Delhi High Court on Monday (November 3, 2025) asked the Central government to urgently intervene to secure the return of 22-year-old Indian student Sahil Mahmadhusen Majothi, who is believed to be detained by Ukrainian forces amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Hearing a petition filed by Sahil’s mother, Hasinaben Samsudinbhai Majothi, Justice Sachin Datta said the material on record suggested the youth may have been coerced into joining Russian military operations.

The court directed the Centre to take all steps necessary to bring the youth back. It also asked the government to appoint a liaison officer to coordinate with Ukrainian authorities and seek consular access to the student.

The court granted four weeks to the Centre to submit a status report that specifies the steps taken on the plea made by the mother. It posted the case for further hearing on December 3.

Advocates Robin Raju and Deepa Joseph, representing the mother, stated that Sahil, a resident of Morbi in Gujarat, had in January last year went to St. Petersburg, Russia on student visa to pursue a course in Russian language and culture from ITMO University.

His family last heard from him on April 10, 2024 when Sahil made a distressed call saying the Russian police was taking him away. His phone has remained switched off since.

The counsel said Sahil’s mother, a cancer patient, has been trying her best to reach out to all the concerned authorities for the release of her son, but failed so far. They said the mother apprehends that her son has been duped into fighting for the Russian forces in the country’s war with Ukraine.

The counsel said that, before approaching the high court, they tried to reach out to the Indian Embassy in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and a government lawyer in Moscow. All the efforts made by the counsel went in vain.