From TheWire.in (2 June 2026): "On the evening of May 14, a person texted this journalist detailing physical violence and extortion targeting African women awaiting deportation at Delhi’s foreign women detention centre. Afraid of repercussions, the person requested anonymity.
"The next morning, two women – one a Tanzanian and another a Nigerian national – texted. Unlike the first tip, these messages included videos and information pointing to possible wrongdoing inside the facility. They contacted this journalist to seek protection from an officer who was allegedly harassing them.
"'Can you help us? Can you come on 19th May and take us to the airport?' asked the Nigerian woman in the text to this journalist.
"Both the African women had flights scheduled for May 20. The Nigerian national possessed a valid Emergency Travel Certificate (TC) and exit permit, whereas the Tanzania had a valid passport and a TC, and was waiting for her final exit permit to be issued on May 18.
"In India, if a foreign national loses their passport or has an expired one, their embassy issues a TC to facilitate return to their country of origin. However, an exit permit from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) is mandatory, indicating that there are no legal or immigration concerns before departing.
"Despite having these documents, the officer in-charge of the facility – known to detainees as 'the boss' – warned them that they wouldn’t be allowed to board their flight until they paid a cash 'penalty for overstaying'.
"Under the Immigration and Foreigners’ Act, 2025, overstay penalties range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 3,00,000 depending on the duration of the violation, with fines increasing as the period of overstay lengthens.
Until May 31, those with a valid Emergency TC and exit permit could leave India without paying any penalty.
"In separate text messages shared with The Wire, both women said that the 'boss' unofficially demanded Rs 50,000 to 1 lakh in cash from each of them as an 'overstaying fee'. Here, overstaying fee is indicative of an illegal amount charged as penalty from foreigners who overstay in India after the expiration of their visas and passports.
"The Tanzanian woman revealed that the officer physically assaulted her for challenging his unjustified demand. She also stated she was denied medical care afterward.
"The women said they didn’t know the officer’s real name and were too traumatised to ask.
"The identity of the officer, however, was revealed when another anonymous person sent images of the man in question to this journalist on May 18.
"This journalist verified the photographs and the officer was identified as Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ashish Kumar. The women later confirmed that he was the same person who had demanded money from them and allegedly assaulted the Tanzanian detainee.
"When contacted, Kumar defended the use of force inside the facility.
"'Yes, I keep a stick with me all the time. I hit them when they attack us,' he told The Wire over a telephonic conversation, claiming that some detainees become violent and at times even take staff members hostage, making the situation 'unmanageable'."