Bengaluru: The high court directed Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to take steps as per the standard operating procedure (SOP) to deport a 42-year-old prostitution racket survivor back to her country, Thailand.If the SOP does not permit deportation, prosecution against her shall continue, Justice M Nagaprasanna said in his order while disposing of her petition.On Feb 3, on getting information that some people were running a brothel and trafficking women from different places, a raid was conducted and the Thai woman was arrested along with another accused. The petitioner was rescued and sent to FRRO custody on Feb 5. Since then, she has been staying in a detention centre.Police registered the crime for offences punishable under Section 143(2) of BNS and Sections 3, 4 and 5 of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.The Thai woman moved the high court, seeking deportation to her country. She claimed she had come to India in search of a job and fell prey to the accused. She claimed to be suffering from psychological illness due to the long legal process involving police investigation and she was unable to return to her country as her visa and passport had expired.On the other hand, Shanthi Bhushan H, deputy solicitor-general, appearing for FRRO, submitted details of the steps to be taken in terms of the model standard operating procedure.After perusing the materials on record, Justice Nagaprasanna noted the central govt on Nov 25, 2025, issued a standard operating procedure, governing withdrawal of prosecution in cases involving foreign nationals, with the objective of facilitating their deportation. The FRRO should follow the SOP and take steps to deport the woman to Thailand, he said.
