Dalit Youth's Body Finally Freed from Saudi Arabia After Rajasthan High Court Slams Kingdom: Heartbreaking Wait Over for Rajasthan Family

Jodhpur- In a significant development following intense legal and diplomatic pressure, the mortal remains of 19-year-old Ramesh Kumar Meghwal from Rajasthan's Balotra district are finally being repatriated from Saudi Arabia, allowing his family to perform a dignified last rites after over a month of anguish.

Meghwal's mother, Teeju Bai, had filed the urgent petition highlighting the emotional and cultural distress caused by the delay. The family, residents of Meghwalon ki Dhani in Gida tehsil, Balotra, learned of Ramesh's death on November 17, four days after the incident and had since exhausted avenues like appeals to local MLAs, MPs, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

The breakthrough came swiftly after the Rajasthan High Court in Jodhpur issued notices to the Saudi Arabian government and the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. On December 11, Justice Nupur Bhati directed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Embassy in New Delhi, the Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and other officials to respond by December 17 on the unexplained delay in releasing the body. The court's intervention prompted the Saudi police to hand over Meghwal's body to the Indian Embassy, which in turn issued the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) for transportation to India.

According to an official email from the Indian Embassy in Riyadh received on December 15 by Charmesh Sharma, a Bundi-based former director of Rajasthan Seed Corporation who had petitioned the President's Secretariat on behalf of the family, the cargo booking process for the flight has commenced. Sharma, known for aiding distressed Indians abroad, had also lodged complaints with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), amplifying the family's pleas.

The case highlights the challenges faced by Indian migrant workers in Gulf countries, where bureaucratic hurdles in post-mortem procedures can prolong repatriation. With the NOC in place, Meghwal's body is expected to arrive in Rajasthan soon, bringing closure to a grieving family and highlighting the efficacy of judicial oversight in international matters.

Circumstances Surrounding Ramesh Kumar Meghwal's Death in Saudi Arabia

Ramesh Kumar Meghwal, the19-year-old from Balotra, Rajasthan, left for Saudi Arabia on October 11, on a valid work visa in pursuit of employment opportunities, a common aspiration for many youth from rural India seeking better prospects abroad. Just over a month later, on November 13, he was discovered deceased in Riyadh under circumstances his family described as suspicious, prompting immediate concerns over potential foul play or negligence.

Official communications from the Indian Embassy, dated December 3, provisionally listed the cause of death as suicide based on preliminary reports, though Saudi police investigations were ongoing, awaiting a forensic medical report to ascertain the exact details. The delay in releasing the body stemmed from these procedural requirements, including the need for the forensic clearance before handover, leaving the family in limbo and fueling their legal recourse.