The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested Pudumadam Imran, listed as accused number 15 in the Sri Lanka human trafficking case, at Bengaluru International Airport soon after he was deported from Sri Lanka, the agency said in a statement reported by DevDiscourse and Mirror Now.

Source: DevDiscourse (NIA statement)

According to the NIA, Imran had been absconding in the case and was detained by Sri Lankan authorities on the basis of an Interpol Red Notice issued at the agency's request, before being repatriated to India, where NIA officers took him into custody on arrival.

The agency alleges that Imran actively participated in a conspiracy to traffic Sri Lankan nationals by falsely promising to facilitate their travel to Canada with valid documents. Investigators allege he collected money from victims' families and routed the funds to co-accused in India through hawala channels. These are allegations by the investigating agency; the case is before the courts.

The case began in 2021, when local police raided premises in Mangaluru on credible information and found Sri Lankan nationals staying without valid documents. The NIA re-registered the case on July 13, 2021, as RC-17/2021/NIA/DLI under sections 120B, 370 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, section 14 of the Foreigners Act and section 12(1A) of the Passport Act, covering criminal conspiracy, human trafficking, cheating and immigration and passport offences.

Two other absconding accused in the same case, Seeni Aabul Khan and Imran Khan, were arrested in 2024 and 2025 respectively and are facing trial before the Special Court for NIA Cases in Bengaluru, the agency said. The NIA said its investigation into the trafficking network is continuing.

Source: Mirror Now