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Indian woman held for overstaying UAE visa returns home after legal help
Detained after her sponsor filed an absconding complaint, the woman later returned to Kerala following intervention by a lawmaker
- PUBLISHED: Mon 23 Feb 2026, 12:05 PM
A woman from the south Indian state of Kerala has returned home after spending time in detention, following legal intervention coordinated by a lawmaker in her hometown and a UAE-based legal services firm.
The woman, from Arimpur in Thrissur district, had travelled to Sharjah on a housemaid visa after reportedly paying large sums to an agent. She worked for about two years before her visa expired.
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According to Yab Legal Services, the agent later demanded an additional Dh9,000 (approximately Rs220,000) to renew the visa, an amount she was unable to pay. She subsequently continued working without valid documentation.
During this period, her sponsor reportedly filed a complaint with immigration authorities stating that she had absconded.
The woman was later stopped by police while visiting a supermarket to purchase household items and was taken into custody as part of legal proceedings related to her residency status.
After her family filed a missing complaint in India, Manalur Member of the Legislative Assembly Murali Perunelli intervened in the case and sought assistance from Salam Pappinisseri, CEO of Yab Legal Services.
The firm later coordinated with authorities and completed the required legal procedures, including securing an outpass within two days. It also arranged her flight ticket, facilitating her return to India.
As Associate Editor, Sahim Salim helps tell the UAE story like no one else does — and leads a team of reporters that asks the questions to get news and headlines that matter.
