Indian detained in Dubai airport, freed without charges

DUBAI: An Indian man was allegedly detained by the authorities at the airport as he checked in to board a flight to the United Kingdom but was later released without any charges.

Iyyem Perumal Radhakrishnan, a foreman at the government-run Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), was detained at an immigration detention centre in the city for two days on unexplained charges.

He said the detention cost him 15-days of crucial professional training in London.

"I was at the immigration counter on September 3 to catch my flight. After checking my passport, the officer just told me that I could not fly. And when I asked why, he did not explain," Radhakrishnan said.

He added that he was later taken to the immigration detention centre along with a few others and was confined to the prison until September 5.

Radhakrishnan said he had lost his passport once in 2003 but had all the related documents, including a police report with him, and had also travelled abroad many times after that.

Brigadier Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director of Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department said necessary action will be taken after investigation.

"I am not at all happy with what happened to him. And I do agree that this is not the right way to treat people. But I need to listen to both sides before I proceed," he said.