Princeton police drop charges against four individuals in labor trafficking case
Hyderabad: Princeton police have dropped charges against four individuals involved in a labor trafficking case in Texas. The individuals, Santhosh Katkoori, Dwaraka Gunda, Chandan Dasireddy, and Anil Male, were initially linked to a labor trafficking operation that began in March 2024.
Sergeant C. Crawford of the Princeton police department sent a letter to the Collin County District Attorney’s Office stating they no longer wish to pursue charges against the four individuals. The letter specifically referenced offenses committed between January 8, 2024, and March 13, 2024.
According to clarification sent by Santhosh Katkoori, Dwaraka Gunda, and Chandan Dasireddy: “They are involved in the operation and management of an IT Consulting Company based in Texas, USA incorporated in 2019. The service provided by the company is to hire people, both fresh graduates and experienced workers, train them and provide jobs to them in the US. Individuals in search of a job approach the company, the said individuals are interviewed by the team and thereafter selected. The selected individuals undergo a rigorous training programme and sent for interviews to IT Companies.”
They stated that, “During the training period, the company pays the candidates according to their skill set. During the said period as candidates do not have income to sustain themselves, the company provides accommodation, food and other basic necessities. The company even takes care of immigration, H1B process and visa for the candidates. Once a candidate secures a job, the salary is credited to the company which is in turn paid to the candidate. 80%-90% of the salary is given to the candidate and the remaining amount is retained by the company for the services provided. At present there are approximately 1500 individuals enrolled with the company in which 700 individuals have secured jobs and the other 800 individuals are undergoing training and seeking jobs.”
They further said, “The company works with top IT Companies in the USA and assists them in finding the right candidates for the jobs offered by them. The company has gained recognition and reputation among the said IT Companies as one of the best consulting firms in the market. It is also recognised by IT professionals in USA for providing high quality training and improving their skill set as per the requirement of the job.”
They stated that the “Majority of the candidates enrolling in the above programme are Indians and fresh graduates, who left their family behind and are trying to make a living in a foreign country. These candidates avail various loans to pay for their education and slay in the USA. By the end of their studies they have completely exhausted their resources and are by no means able to afford to live there without a job. The individuals who fail to secure jobs from campus placements find it extremely difficult to sustain in the USA as they do not have any income and cannot even afford accommodation and food. The company with which my clients are associated is helping these individuals by providing, shelter, food, other basic necessities and simultaneously training them to secure jobs so that they have a stable income and can become independent.”
They clarified that “In Princeton, USA, 15 girls who enroled with the company were provided accommodation in the company’s guest house. The said house was monitored by Santosh Katkoori. In March 2024, as part of regular monthly cleaning, Santosh had booked pest control services to clean the house and prevent pests. This was done by Santosh in order to provide a hygienic and sterile environment for the candidates.”
They stated, “The person who came to the house from pest control services, upon seeing 15 girls in one house, misconstrued the situation and called the police complaining of human trafficking. When the police came to the house and started banging the door, the candidates panicked and hid in different places of the house thinking that someone was trying to commit burglary as the said crime is very common in the USA. One of candidates even called the police for help. A few minutes later when the same police (who was called by pest control) entered from the back door, the candidates thought the police arrived to help them and came out of their hideouts. As such the police found the candidates in a panic-stricken state. The police interrogated the candidates, during which they clearly informed the police that there is no human trafficking involved and that they are only living there as part of the consultancy programme.”
They clarified saying, “During interrogation one of the candidates called Santosh who immediately reached the house to help the candidates. In case Santosh was really involved in a illegal activity, he would have absconded immediately and would have never gone to the said house. Thereafter the police interrogated Santosh, arrested him and later released him on bail. A few days later the police raided Santosh’s house and arrested his wife Dwaraka Gunda who was also later released on bail. The police issued a statement regarding the incident and merely stated that they are suspicious of human trafficking. However, no concluding statement is made by the police.”
They further said, “We are involved in the management of a consulting company which provides training and jobs to students and professionals in the USA. The said company is being run since 5 years within the framework of law and there is no history of any violation of law. As part of the consulting programme, the candidates are given accommodation and other basic necessities. While candidates were staying at such accommodation provided by the company, the police completely misunderstood the situation and suspected it to be human trafficking. The statement given by the police merely states that they were suspicious that it is human trafficking and no concluding statement is made by police. There is no evidence with the police to prove their doubt as such they have only stated suspicion and have not decided anything.”
