'Follow Local Laws': MEA's Advice To Indians Abroad After Punjab Man Held In US Porn Case

Last Updated:July 17, 2025, 17:35 IST

Indian citizen Gurjeet Singh Malhi from Punjab was arrested in the US for child pornography. MEA urged Indians to follow local laws. Malhi's AAP links sparked political uproar.

Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. (File/PTI)

After an Indian citizen from Punjab was arrested in the United States on charges of possessing child pornography, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday said that these are matters of law and order, advising Indian nationals travelling abroad to abide by local laws and regulations.

“These are matters of law and order. We would endeavour to tell Indian nationals going abroad that they should abide by local laws, guidelines and regulations," he said.

This comes after an Indian citizen from Punjab, identified as Gurjeet Singh Malhi, was arrested in the United States on charges of possessing child pornography, triggering a massive political uproar over his links to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in the state.

Pictures of realtor and investor Gurjeet Singh Malhi, with a cross-section of politicians, surfaced on social media platforms Facebook and X. Launching an attack, the BJP and Congress shared the pictures, which he purportedly got clicked with leaders of various parties like the AAP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), among others.

The BJP and Congress have demanded answers from the AAP about its connection to Malhi, who was arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Seattle.

According to the US ICE, Seattle, Malhi, 42, was arrested during a joint federal law enforcement action. He has been charged by local authorities with possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), commonly known as child porn.

The US ICE Seattle had announced Malhi’s arrest on July 11. But, soon after his arrest, BJP and Congress leaders from Punjab shared photos of him with AAP that have gone viral.

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