NIA arrests deported accused in Sri Lanka human trafficking case at Bengaluru airport

The case originated in 2021 when local police conducted raids at premises in Mangaluru based on credible information and found several Sri Lankan nationals staying there without valid documents. File

: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday (November 13, 2026) arrested Pudumadam Imran, an absconding accused in the Sri Lankan human trafficking case, after he was deported from Sri Lanka and handed over to Indian authorities.

Mr. Imran was detained by Sri Lankan authorities based on an Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of the NIA. Following his repatriation to India, an NIA team arrested him at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on November 13.

According to the NIA, Mr. Imran was actively involved in a conspiracy to traffic Sri Lankan nationals by promising to facilitate their migration to Canada using valid documents.

NIA nabs prime accused in Sri Lankan human trafficking case

He allegedly collected money from the victims’ family members and relatives and transferred the funds through hawala channels to co-accused persons in India to facilitate the trafficking and illegal confinement of the victims.

The case originated in 2021 when local police conducted raids at premises in Mangaluru based on credible information and found several Sri Lankan nationals staying there without valid documents.

A case was registered in this connection under Crime No. 103/2021, invoking various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Foreigners Act and the Passport Act.

The NIA subsequently took over the investigation and re-registered the case in July 2021 under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 370 (trafficking of persons) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC, Section 14 of the Foreigners Act and Section 12(1A) of the Passport Act.

Earlier, two other accused who were absconding in the case, Seeni Aabul Khan (A-9) and Imran Khan (A-7), were arrested in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Both are currently facing trial before the Special Court for NIA Cases in Bengaluru.