LONDON: An Indian student studying in the English city of Coventry has been arrested by British police for grooming underage girls online, authorities said.
The arrested student, identified as Jeetesh, broke down after police officers confronted him with incriminating evidence recovered from his phone, including inappropriate chats and a wallpaper reading, “Akela mat padne dena is mahamanav ko.”
UK authorities are continuing their investigation into the matter.
According to a post by The CSR Journal, Jeetesh allegedly communicated online with individuals he believed were 14-year-old girls and had arranged meetings.
A video circulating on social media shows him apologising to police officers as they arrive at the scene.
The Indian student attempted to use his nationality to avoid consequences, claiming, “I am from India… I am from Modi’s land, my arrest won’t go down well diplomatically for England,” which police dismissed.
Bro forgot to say Jai Sriram 😭
Jeetesh, studying in UK, was arrested by police for grooming underage girls online, a serious criminal offence. Reports say he repeatedly claimed, “I am from Modi’s land, my arrest won’t go down well diplomatically for England” when confronted. pic.twitter.com/PhNq103Ddj
— Nomadic Ex (@nomadic_ex) January 10, 2026
Following the incident, Jeetesh was reportedly evicted from his accommodation in Coventry. His action is described as a “serious criminal offence both morally and legally,” drawing widespread condemnation.
Indian students abroad
The incident occurs amid a broader scrutiny of Indian students abroad. Data shared in India’s parliament in December 2025 by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh indicated that 453 Indian students have been deported over the past five years for violating visa rules or host country regulations.
The United Kingdom recorded the highest number of deportations, with 170 cases, followed by Australia (114), Russia (82), and the United States (45).
Canada, Myanmar, Malaysia, the UAE, Bahrain, Thailand, and Cambodia also deported Indian students, often linked to criminal activity such as cybercrime or harassment.
US warns Indian students
The US Embassy in New Delhi recently warned Indian students that violations of local laws could lead to visa revocation, deportation, and permanent ineligibility for future visas.
In a post on X, the embassy emphasised that “a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right” and urged compliance with all legal requirements.
Breaking U.S. laws can have serious consequences for your student visa. If you are arrested or violate any laws, your visa may be revoked, you may be deported, and you could be ineligible for future U.S. visas. Follow the rules and don’t jeopardize your travel. A U.S. visa is a… pic.twitter.com/A3qyoo6fuD
— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) January 7, 2026
The warnings followed high-profile deportations, including a February 2025 incident in which a US military aircraft returned 104 deported Indian nationals to Amritsar.
The US cited violations of immigration and criminal laws as the reason for deportation.
Decline in student visas
The number of Indian students travelling abroad has declined in recent years. Official data indicate a 44.5 per cent drop in US student visas issued to Indian nationals in August 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Similarly, the number of Indian students entering the UK fell 11 per cent over the past year.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during a visit to India in October 2025, confirmed that the UK would not relax visa regulations for Indian nationals despite long-standing requests from New Delhi.
