Balwant Kataria, also known as Bobby Kataria, a 38-year-old social media influencer from Gurugram, was arrested on charges of human trafficking, fraud, and other offenses. Kataria allegedly promised two Uttar Pradesh residents jobs in the UAE and Singapore in exchange for ₹4 lakh each but instead trafficked them to Laos to work in an illegal call center.
The victims, Arun Kumar and Manish Tomar, managed to escape after two days and sought help from the Indian embassy in Vientiane, where they were repatriated. Kataria has a history of controversial behavior and brushes with the law, including previous arrests for assault and derogatory social media posts.
Kataria, with over three lakh Instagram followers, portrays himself as a competitive bodybuilder and powerlifter, sharing fitness and nutrition tips on social media. He started a consultancy business in 2023, allegedly exploiting it to lure individuals seeking job opportunities abroad into human trafficking schemes.
This arrest sheds light on the dark side of social media influencers and highlights the need for stringent measures against human trafficking and exploitation. Kataria’s case serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of online influencers engaging in illegal activities.
