Kanpur Engineer Freed After Russian Detention, Wife Credits BJP MP and Employer

When Sneha Gupta posted a shaky video on social media, relief was palpable: her husband, engineer Chandan Gupta, had finally been released from Russian detention and was on his way back to Kanpur. The couple, who have a ten‑year‑old son, had endured a nerve‑wracking week after Chandan was seized late on a Saturday night in Moscow.

According to Sneha, the arrest came as a shock. She was in Moscow when her husband’s phone and passport were taken, and she only learned of the incident from a friend who was with him. “I had no idea what was happening,” she said, her voice trembling. “One moment we were talking about work, the next he was gone.”

Within hours, Sneha reached out to Chandan’s employer, Noida‑based UFlex Ltd. The company’s Russia administration team and the unit head kept in touch with her, coordinating every step. “They hired a lawyer for my husband and stayed on the line with me day and night,” Sneha explained. It was that legal assistance that, she believes, tipped the scales in favour of his release.

Beyond the corporate help, political intervention played a crucial role. Sneha publicly appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, warning that Chandan might be coerced into joining the Russian army. The pleas caught the attention of BJP MP Seema Dwivedi, who, together with members of the Sarv Vaishya Samaj, pressed Indian and Russian authorities for a swift resolution.

“I’m grateful to Seema Dwivedi and the community that amplified our voice,” Sneha said in the video. “Their support turned a private nightmare into a matter that could not be ignored.”

The Indian Embassy in Moscow confirmed it was in contact with Sneha and the local authorities, describing the case as a legal issue under Russian investigation and stating that consular access had been sought.

While the exact reasons behind Chandan’s detention remain murky—media reports of alleged recruitment for the Russian military have been flatly denied by the family—the episode underscores the vulnerabilities faced by Indian expatriates working abroad.

Back in Kanpur, the Gupta family is reunited, but the experience has left a lasting imprint. “Being far from home made everything scarier,” Sneha reflected. “I thank everyone who stood by us, from my husband’s colleagues to our political friends. Now, we just want to move forward together.”