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Promised jobs in Spain, sent to Thailand. Then came ‘Khan Baba’ call
Developing
In Short: Two young men from Punjab were promised jobs in Spain but ended up in Thailand, where one is now in jail, according to reports.
Job promises in Spain led to a grim reality for two young men from Punjab, who instead found themselves in Thailand, according to reports from The Indian Express. Instead of employment, they faced kidnapping and are now in jail, with one of them, Kulraj, currently detained.
The Indian Express also reported that the first case was in October 2025, involving Ajay Singh of Sultanpur Lodhi, who was promised a job in Australia but ended up in a similar situation, leading to a reported resolution with the agent promising to return the money.
Local travel agents in Punjab approached Manpreet Singh and Kulraj separately, promising jobs in Spain, Australia, and South Korea, but the young men ended up in Thailand, Iran, Ethiopia, and Kenya, respectively, after being misled by different agents and taken via various routes.
Calls from a man identifying himself as 'Khan Baba' reportedly reached their families, suggesting a network of deception and kidnapping. The families have reported these incidents to the police, who are investigating the cases.
What's still developing
- “You first reach Spain and then pay as you earn,” they were told.
- Then came calls reportedly to their family members from a man who identified himself as “Khan Baba”.
- “Sumrit told me that the youths would travel to Thailand first, and obtain their Spain visas later. After that, the families (of Kulraj and Mandeep) were directed to a person in Amritsar, who collected the money to give to Sumrit in cryptocurrency,” Sanjeev tells The Indian Express, adding that he was ready to cooperate with police.
- Police say they have spoken to Ajay and his family members who said they are in talks with their agent who promised to return the money following which they will withdraw the complaint.
- Manpreet Singh, 24, used to do odd jobs in his native village of Gill in Punjab’s Kapurthala district.
- Kulraj is now in a jail in Thailand after a “wrong tip-off” against him by his alleged kidnappers, they say.
Sources
- The Indian Expresslink