Hyderabad Police and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) have identified 49 foreign nationals for allegedly overstaying in India or violating visa conditions during a special verification drive, with 12 already deported and action continuing against the remaining cases.
The operation was launched on August 31 by the Special Branch’s Foreigners Monitoring Cell in coordination with the FRRO, local Law and Order police and the Hyderabad IT Cell. Authorities said the exercise was intended to verify the status of foreign nationals, check compliance with visa conditions and prevent unlawful activities.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar said the 49 people were identified during the joint operation. The process of deporting or removing those who remain in the city was under way, according to the police.
Tolichowki recorded the highest number of identified overstayers, with 30 cases. Langar House and Mehdipatnam reported six cases each, followed by Rajendranagar with three, Banjara Hills with two and Gudimalkapur with one. The distribution places the largest concentration of cases in areas with substantial migrant, student and international resident populations, although the police report did not provide a broader breakdown of the foreign nationals’ backgrounds.
The verification also led to cases involving alleged criminal activity. Police recovered 250 grams of ganja from one foreign national, while three South Sudanese nationals in Rajendranagar allegedly tested positive for cannabis during drug screening. Police said the three had entered India on student visas and had allegedly overstayed since 2018, 2023 and 2025 respectively.
Authorities also reported alleged counterfeit currency-related fraud and cheating cases involving some foreign nationals. Others who had entered India on student visas were allegedly working as hospital translators or intermediaries after their visas expired. Police said these individuals collected translation charges and, in some cases, commissions of about 15 per cent of hospital bills.
The operation further identified certain foreign women in connection with alleged prostitution-related activities, according to the police. In one case, a Kenyan national who had entered India on a tourist visa was allegedly found to have overstayed. Another foreign national was allegedly found possessing Alprazolam tablets mixed with cough syrup for consumption to produce intoxicating effects.
The drive highlights the coordination required between immigration authorities, specialised police units, local police stations and digital or information technology teams to track visa compliance within a large metropolitan area. It also places responsibility on authorities to process each case under the applicable immigration and criminal laws, particularly where deportation, detention or criminal investigation may involve different procedures.
Hyderabad Police said action against the remaining identified foreign nationals was continuing. The authorities did not disclose a completion date for the deportation or removal process, or provide details of any further verification measures planned after the operation.
