The Delhi High Court has called on the Central government to take immediate action for the safe return of Sahil Mahmadhusen Majothi, a 22-year-old Indian student believed to be held by Ukrainian forces amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. This urgent appeal was made on Monday, November 3, 2025.
During a hearing for a petition filed by Sahil’s mother, Hasinaben Samsudinbhai Majothi, Justice Sachin Datta noted that available evidence suggests the young man might have been forced into participating in Russian military operations. Consequently, the court instructed the government to implement all necessary measures to bring Sahil home. Furthermore, it requested the appointment of a liaison officer to work directly with Ukrainian authorities and facilitate consular access to the student. The Centre has been given four weeks to submit a detailed status report outlining the actions taken in response to the mother’s plea, with the next hearing scheduled for December 3.
Sahil, a resident of Morbi, Gujarat, had traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia, in January of the previous year on a student visa to study Russian language and culture at ITMO University, as presented by advocates Robin Raju and Deepa Joseph, representing his mother.
His family’s last contact with him was on April 10, 2024, when Sahil made a distressing call, stating that Russian police were taking him away. His phone has remained inactive since that day.
According to his legal counsel, Sahil’s mother, who is battling cancer, has exhausted all efforts to contact relevant authorities for her son’s release, but without success. She fears that her son may have been tricked into fighting for Russian forces in the war-torn region of Ukraine.