NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
New York, NY, February 12, 2026: A couple from Gujarat, India who were allegedly kidnapped in Azerbaijan while attempting to travel to the United States have been rescued following swift intervention by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, according to multiple media reports.
Dhruv Patel and his wife Dipika, residents of Anand district, were reportedly en route to the U.S. through what sources described as irregular or non-standard travel arrangements when they were abducted after arriving in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
According to reports, the couple’s family began receiving threatening calls and videos showing the pair in distress, along with ransom demands. The family alerted local authorities and approached their Member of Parliament, who escalated the matter to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and officials at the Indian Embassy in Baku.
Within approximately 24 hours of diplomatic intervention, the couple was located and secured. They were subsequently brought to the Indian Embassy in Baku and are reported to be safe.
Reports indicate that a case has been registered against individuals suspected of involvement in the incident, and investigations are ongoing in Azerbaijan.
While full details of the circumstances leading to the kidnapping have not yet been publicly disclosed, media reports suggest the couple may have been working with travel agents who promised to facilitate their journey to the United States outside regular immigration channels.
The incident has renewed concerns about human trafficking networks and fraudulent overseas travel schemes that target individuals seeking migration opportunities. Authorities have repeatedly cautioned citizens against engaging unverified agents offering shortcuts to international travel or immigration.
The case remains under investigation.
