Government of India
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs 

Rajya Sabha
Unstarred Question No. 51
Answered On April 23, 2015 

Question
Indians Trapped/Under House Arrest in Gulf Countries 

51. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR: 

Will the Minister of OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state; 

(a)   whether the Ministry is aware of the plight of the Indian nationals trapped in foreign jails andplaced under house arrest, especially in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, if so the details thereof; 

(b)   whether the Ministry maintains/ intends to create a record of Indian nationals who gets arrestedin these GCC countries, and 

(c)    whether the legal aid scheme introduced to help Indians trapped in prisons outside the countryhas been useful so far, if so, the details thereof ? 

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS
[GENERAL V.K. SINGH (RETD.)]

 (a): As reported by the Indian Missions, the details of the Indian nationals in foreign jails andplaced under house arrest is at Annexure.

 (b): Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs does not maintain record of Indians who get arrested inGCC countries as Indian Missions/Posts in these countries maintain such data.

 (c): Under the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), provision has been made for payment of fine/penalties for the release of Indian nationals in jails/detention centers& payment of penalties in respect of Indian nationals for illegal stay in the host countries where prima-facie the workerisnot at fault. In addition to this, initial legal assistance is provided to the overseas Indians alsoindeserving cases. The scheme has been found very useful by the beneficiaries.

 The payment of penalties for cases of illegal stay is limited to a maximum of US$1000 percase after the Head of the Missions satisfies himself that the Indian national is not intentionally atfault.

 In respect of Indian nationals in jails/detention cases, payment of small fines/penaltiessubject to a maximum of US$2500 per case after the Head of the Missions satisfies himself that suchpayment would lead to release of Indian nationals.

 So far, over 33,370 overseas Indians have been benefited from Indian Community Welfare

Fund (ICWF)

 ANNEXURE

Annexure referred to in part (a) of the reply to Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No.51 to be answered on 23.04.2015 regarding 'Indian trapped/under house arrest in Gulf countries'. 

 The above figures are subject to variation from time to time.