Indian H-1B Worker Accuses Employer Of Forcing To Pay $100,000 To Keep US Job, Files Lawsuit
An Indian H-1B worker sued a Texas employer, alleging coercive payments, withheld payroll records, and immigration threats to keep his job.Summary
Rishikesh Raj Meesala, an Indian H-1B worker in the United States, filed a lawsuit in Texas accusing employer Sai Jitender Kalagra and company officials of demanding nearly $100,000 to keep his job and maintain legal immigration status. Filed by Banias Law, the complaint alleges Meesala was placed on the "bench" without an active project, denied pay stubs unless he paid more, and threatened with ICE reporting if he resisted. The suit accuses the company of labour trafficking, forced labour and document servitude, and claims at least $97,248.94 is owed in unpaid wages and coerced payments. The allegations have not been proven in court, and no public response from Kalagra or the company is noted. The case is set against broader concerns that H-1B workers' employer-tied immigration status can create vulnerability; USCIS data cited in the article says India-born workers accounted for 71% of approved H-1B petitions in fiscal year 2024.
(Source：News 18)