Saqib Khan | Bhopal16 minutes ago
A man from Madhya Pradesh, who travelled to Oman hoping to work as an imam at a mosque, alleges that he was instead forced to clean toilets and offices for 14-15 hours a day, was denied wages and was repeatedly left without food.
Mohammad Faizan, a resident of Diwanganj in Raisen district, said he was promised a job as an imam at a mosque in Oman. However, after reaching Muscat, he was allegedly assigned cleaning duties at a ministry office with 30-40 rooms.
After suffering alleged mental and financial harassment for nearly two and a half months, Faizan was able to return to India following the intervention of the Indian Embassy, Ministry of External Affairs and the efforts of Bhopal-based social worker Syed Abid Hussain. Read Faizan’s ordeal in this report…
Promising imamate in a mosque, the agent sent Faizan to Oman, where he was made to clean toilets.
Agent promised Imam job, took around ₹2 lakh
Faizan told Dainik Bhaskar that he met an agent in January 2026, who promised him a job as an imam at a mosque in Oman.
He initially paid ₹20,000 to the agent. During the medical process, he was allegedly asked to pay another ₹1.80 lakh. His family arranged nearly ₹2 lakh and sent him to Oman.
Faizan reached Muscat on May 4, 2026.
Kept at company for two days, then sent to clean 40-room office
According to Faizan, the company kept him for two to three days after he arrived in Muscat. He was then sent to a ministry office.
However, the job he had been promised was never given to him.
Instead, he was allegedly made responsible for cleaning an office comprising around 30-40 rooms. He said he had to clean toilets, bathrooms and rooms, wash utensils and perform other cleaning duties.
Faizan was made to wash utensils and clean the 40-room Ministry office.
Worked 14-15 hours a day, allegedly went without food
Faizan said he was made to work for 14-15 hours every day but was allegedly neither paid his salary nor provided money for food.
Whenever he asked for his wages, he was reportedly told that the money was not available and would be paid later.
As his money ran out, he allegedly had to remain hungry for several days. On some occasions, he said he went without food for four consecutive days.
Other Indians living in Muscat eventually helped him. A man identified as Nawab Bhai gave him money to buy food, while Mohammad Khalil Ahmed took him to his home and kept him there for around one and a half months.
Agent blocked his number after repeated requests for help
Faizan said he repeatedly contacted the agent in late May and early June, seeking help. The agent allegedly kept asking him to wait for “one or two days” before eventually blocking his number.
When Faizan asked the company to send him back to India, he was allegedly told to deposit 650 Omani rials, equivalent to around ₹16,629, before he could leave.
Faizan’s case reached Bhopal-based social worker Syed Abid Hussain.
Social worker approached, Embassy started process same day
Faizan’s case reached Bhopal-based social worker Syed Abid Hussain on July 18.
Hussain immediately sent a complaint to the Indian Embassy and the Indian Migrant Resource Centre under the Ministry of External Affairs. The embassy reportedly called Faizan and initiated the necessary documentation process.
He later obtained an exit permit from the Labour Court.
On July 26, the Indian Embassy confirmed by email that the process for Faizan’s return had been completed. He reached Mumbai on the night of July 28 and returned to his home in Diwanganj on the night of July 30.
Company allegedly kept his passport
According to Hussain, Faizan’s passport had also been kept by the company.
Following the embassy’s intervention, his documents were recovered and the required legal formalities were completed, allowing him to return to India.
Social worker says he has helped over 1,500 Indians return home
Bhopal-based social worker Syed Abid Hussain has been assisting Indians stranded abroad for several years.
According to Hussain, he has so far helped around 1,500 Indians return safely to India.
In Faizan’s case as well, he coordinated with the Indian Embassy, Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Migrant Resource Centre to expedite the process.
Hussain said that in most such cases, timely complaints and availability of the required documents can help the Indian Embassy take effective action.
