Two British nationals jailed for illegal entry into India from Nepal

A court in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, sentenced two British citizens to six months in prison for illegally entering India from Nepal, officials said on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Chief Justice Pratibha Chowdhry also imposed a fine of ₹ 50,000 each on Monday (April 6).

If the fine is not paid, he will be sentenced to 3 more months in prison.

However, after the sentence was announced, the court decided to release the defendants on bail on the condition that they do not leave the country during the appeal period.

According to prosecution officer Nirmal Yadav, the two persons, Hassan Amman Saleem (35) and Sumitra Shakeel Olivia (61), were arrested for entering India without valid documents through the Indo-Nepal border at Rupaideha in November last year.

Originally from Gujranwala, Pakistan, Saleem is based in Manchester, UK and works as a lecturer in audiology at De Montfort University.

Originally from Udupi in Karnataka, Olivia later acquired British citizenship and lives in Gloucester, United Kingdom. Apart from a British passport, he also holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.

The duo traveled to Nepal from the UK in November 2025 to participate in an outreach program for hearing-impaired children at a medical college in Nepalgunj, Mr. Yadav said. They were carrying valid Nepalese visas.

On November 15, 2025, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel and Uttar Pradesh Police caught them during a joint check drive at the International Border while they were trying to enter India.

They were found to not have valid documents to enter the country and were subsequently arrested under the relevant provisions of the Immigration and Aliens Act.

The duo, who remained in prison for a while, were released on bail by the court on the condition that they did not leave the country. They have been attending the hearings regularly since then, mostly staying in hotels in Bahraich during the trial.

Mr. Yadav said that based on the evidence and circumstances, the court both found the accused guilty and awarded the penalty, observing that in cases of illegal entry, punishment was necessary to ensure compliance with the law.