Chennai: In a disturbing development, a Tamil Nadu-based doctor, Dr. K. Jagadeeswaran, was allegedly detained and tortured by Russian authorities in Sochi in September. His wife, Yamini, has appealed to both the Central and State governments to intervene and ensure his safe return to India.
Dr. Jagadeeswaran, a native of Tiruvallur district, completed his medical degree from an Armenian university in 2022 and has been living in Armenia with his wife since then. The couple, who have a baby girl, had visited Tamil Nadu in August 2025 to meet their families.
During their visit, Jagadeeswaran’s friend Shekhar Manikandan, who runs an educational consultancy in Russia, requested him to accompany him to Russia, as he was proficient in the Russian language. The two left Chennai on September 15 on tourist visas.
According to Yamini, the ordeal began soon after their arrival at Sochi Airport, where immigration authorities detained the duo on September 16. While Shekhar was released a week later and deported to India, Jagadeeswaran was allegedly kept in custody and subjected to harassment and torture.
“The authorities claimed he disobeyed their orders and refused to answer questions, which is completely untrue,” Yamini told PTI, adding that her husband’s health severely deteriorated during his detention. “He was not given proper food, and his sugar levels dropped to one per cent,” she said.
Following the intervention of a local woman advocate in Sochi, Jagadeeswaran was released but was only handed back his passport. He was not given the necessary documents to travel within Russia or reach Moscow, where the Indian Embassy could assist in facilitating his return.
“Right now, he is staying under the custody of the Russian lawyer we hired. The Indian Embassy in Moscow informed us that he must reach the capital for a safe return to India, but without proper documents, he cannot travel,” Yamini said.
The family has reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi, but so far, no solution has been found. Yamini also filed a complaint with the BJP Tamil Nadu office, seeking urgent intervention.
“Instead of giving a proper explanation for his detention, my husband was harassed and humiliated. Through the media, I sincerely request the Central and State governments to take immediate steps for his safe and early return from Russia,” she appealed.
