Eleven Indian nationals, including 10 from Punjab and one from Telangana (Hyderabad), have been deported from Australia on a special chartered flight following alleged criminal offences, visa breaches and non-cooperation with immigration authorities.

The chartered aircraft, operated by Nauru Airlines, landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Thursday. According to official communication, most of the deportees had been held in immigration detention centres across Australia before being removed from the country.

The group had been detained at several facilities, including the Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre in Western Australia, the Melbourne Immigration Detention Centre in Victoria and the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in New South Wales.

Authorities said only two of the 11 deportees had valid passports. The remaining nine were flown back to India using emergency certificates issued by Indian diplomatic missions in Australia, allowing one-way travel to India.

Australian authorities reportedly decided to use a dedicated charter flight because some of the detainees were considered “non-compliant and disruptive”, making it difficult and unsafe to deport them on commercial flights with regular passengers.

The operation involved additional security officers, medical staff and escorts on board. Officials said some of the detainees had resisted removal procedures and refused consular assistance.

Among those deported was 34-year-old Jaswant Singh, who had been held at Yongah Hill. Authorities reportedly described him as highly uncooperative. He was allegedly linked to offences involving weapons, drug-related equipment, repeated bail violations, drink-driving, theft and property damage. Previous attempts to deport him had reportedly failed.

Another detainee at Yongah Hill, 32-year-old Angrej Singh, allegedly refused consular support. Authorities said he was accused in multiple fraud matters, drug offences, trespassing and possession of stolen property.

Satinderjit Singh Shergill, 31, who was held at the Melbourne Immigration Detention Centre, was allegedly facing matters linked to repeated breaches of domestic violence orders, assault and offences against police.

Harpreet Singh Sidhu, 30, was detained at Villawood and was described as non-cooperative. He was allegedly facing charges including methamphetamine possession, fraud, theft, trespassing, bail violations and providing false information to police.

Jagjit Singh Sidhu, 35, who was held at Yongah Hill, was reportedly linked to burglary, vehicle theft, the use of forged documents and handling stolen goods. Authorities also claimed he did not cooperate during deportation proceedings.

Jaspreet Singh, 37, was detained in Melbourne. While authorities said there were no confirmed convictions against him, he was allegedly facing serious pending charges, including shoplifting, drug possession, assault, bail violations and domestic violence-related offences.

Kanwaljeet Singh, 27, was held at Villawood. He was allegedly accused of drug possession, shoplifting involving goods worth more than $2,000, vehicle theft, carrying a knife in public and attempting to escape custody.

Ranjit Singh, 35, who had been held at Yongah Hill, had reportedly been the subject of previous failed deportation attempts. Authorities alleged he was linked to heroin and methamphetamine possession, theft and repeated breaches of bail.

Harpreet Singh, 41, was held at the Melbourne centre and reportedly cooperated with officials. However, he was allegedly facing serious charges including assaulting police, stalking, intimidation, breaches of restraining orders and a child-related sexual offence.

Shruti Sharma, 45, who was detained at Villawood, reportedly had no criminal convictions but was deported over immigration violations and initial non-cooperation with authorities.

The only deportee from Hyderabad was identified as 31-year-old Abdullah Saleh Bahatab. He had been detained at Villawood and reportedly cooperated with authorities, but was allegedly facing matters involving threats to cause harm, stalking and intimidation.

Officials said the deportation reflected Australia’s firm approach toward foreign nationals who breach visa rules or are allegedly involved in criminal activity.

After their arrival in India, most of the deportees are expected to receive assistance including financial support, domestic travel arrangements and short-term accommodation. However, arrangements for Shruti Sharma are reportedly being managed independently.

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