Washington, D.C., USA: A Vadodara-based couple has alleged that their 28-year-old son has been confined in Thailand for the past five months, leading local police to begin an inquiry into the matter, an official confirmed.

According to city residents Nagarbhai Ranpara and his wife Rita, their son Tushar has not been in touch with them for months. They suspect he is being held against his will in Thailand by certain agents who convinced him to relocate to the Southeast Asian nation nearly a year ago.

The distressed parents recently filed a complaint at the Sama police station in Vadodara, requesting authorities to track down their son and help bring him back safely.

Taking into account the seriousness of the complaint, the case has been transferred to the Vadodara City Crime Branch, informed Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP-G Division) GB Bambhaniya on Wednesday.

“Based on the application submitted by Tushar’s parents, he first traveled to Dubai in April last year for employment with assistance from two local immigration agents. Later, in September 2024, a Dubai-based agent identified as Abhishek Kumar sent him to Thailand. Since the past five months, however, he has stopped all communication with his family,” ACP Bambhaniya stated.

“The parents believe their son is being kept captive and forced to work without his consent. The case has now been handed to the crime branch to locate Tushar and establish contact with him at the earliest,” the officer added.

Nagarbhai Ranpara has also appealed to both the Gujarat government and the Centre for intervention to secure his son’s safe return.

“He used to stay in touch with us through video and voice calls after arriving in Thailand last year. But for the past five months, we have not received any calls. We suspect the agents who sent him there seized his phone and trapped him. We urge the state and central authorities to take action and bring our son back home,” Ranpara told reporters.