Hyderabad: A man from Nizamabad district in Telangana was arrested in Abu Dhabi on charges of selling liquor without a licence outside his work camp.Gautham Gujarala (28), who migrated to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for work in Feb 2024, was working as a cleaner at a private company, according to his family. He reportedly began selling whisky bottles to customers outside of his work camp to earn additional money.“Camp associates said that some workers were engaged in similar illegal sales, and Gautham reportedly followed suit, believing he could make a quick buck,” said Gautham’s friend Suresh Goud. However, liquor sales in Dubai require strict govt authorisation, and unauthorised selling is a punishable offence.“We were told that he was taken into custody about a week ago. He may face a fine of up to 3,000 dirhams and possible deportation following legal proceedings. He is likely to remain in detention for several weeks pending a decision by authorities,” Goud added.Family members in Nizamabad anxiously awaited updates. TR Srinivas, who has been campaigning for migrant workers’ rights for decades, said, “The family is under immense stress. His father made repeated calls to find out what’s going on. They are hoping for his safe return and praying that the issue gets resolved soon.”Rising number of deportations from the GulfThe case comes amid growing concerns over legal violations and deportations of Indian workers in Gulf countries. According to data placed before Parliament, more than 16,000 distress complaints from Indians working overseas were registered on govt grievance portals recently, with Gulf nations accounting for a significant share. Saudi Arabia topped the list with 3,049 complaints. Countries like UAE (1,587), Oman (613) and Kuwait (549) also saw large numbers of complaints.Official figures show that around four lakh Indian workers travelled to Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries in 2025 alone, with the UAE accounting for 1.7 lakh workers and Saudi Arabia 1.2 lakh. From Telangana, an estimated 15 lakh workers migrated to various ECR countries over the past decade, largely to Gulf nations.Saudi Arabia also recorded the highest number of deportations of Indians — over 11,000 in the last 12 months — while the UAE reported 1,469 deportations during the same period. According to the Union ministry of external affairs (MEA), common reasons for deportation include overstaying visas, working without valid permits, violation of labour regulations, absconding from employers, and involvement in civil or criminal cases.“Many workers, due to low wages or peer influence, get involved in activities that are strictly prohibited under local laws. Gulf countries have zero tolerance for such violations. Workers must understand that even minor legal breaches can lead to detention, fines or deportation,” Srinivas said.
