Kanpur Engineer Detained in Moscow; Wife Alleges Pressure to Join Russian Army, Appeals to PM Modi and CM Yogi
Moscow / Kanpur, Sept 8 – An emotional video appeal by an Indian woman stranded in Moscow has gone viral on social media, after she alleged that her husband, a Kanpur-based engineer, was detained by Russian police and is being pressured to join the Russian Army.
The woman has been identified as Sneha Gupta, wife of Chandan Gupta (40), an engineer from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
According to the family, Chandan was working in Moscow on a Highly Qualified Specialist work visa through a Noida-based company – UFlex / Flex Films Rus LLC based in Sector 62, Noida.
In the video shared by Amar Ujala and widely circulated on X and Instagram, Sneha, who is in Moscow with the couple’s 10-year-old son, is seen in tears alleging that Russian police took her husband from their residence late on Sunday.
> “I am afraid that my husband may be sent to the Russian Army forcibly. He has done nothing wrong,” she says in the video, questioning, “Why are we not safe when we are sent abroad through an official visa for work?”
She has appealed directly to *Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath* for immediate intervention for her husband’s safe release and return to India.
She also alleged that her husband had faced harassment during Moscow Day celebrations before his detention and claimed that due to a shortage of personnel, Russian forces were trying to recruit foreign nationals, including Indians.
After the video went viral, the *Indian Embassy in Moscow* said it has taken cognizance of the matter.
In a post on X, the Embassy said: _”We have seen a social media post by an Indian national regarding her husband. We are in touch with her and the local authorities in the matter. As per law enforcement authorities, it is a legal matter and they are looking into it. The Embassy has also sought consular access.”
According to government sources quoted by several national media outlets, Chandan Gupta was detained along with his friend Ashish at around 11:30 PM on Saturday, September 5, near Moscow’s Red Square on charges of public intoxication and damaging an ambulance. Both are reportedly being held at the Baumanskaya police station.
There is no independent confirmation so far of the circumstances of the detention or the allegation of forced recruitment into the Russian military.
The wife has said she is unable to understand the local language and is struggling to get legal help, and that the Indian Embassy in Moscow has not responded to her repeated calls – a claim the Embassy has now countered by saying it is in touch with her.
