Subhechcha Ganguly 
An Indian national in the United States is seeking to restore his visa after being wrongfully arrested when police mistook his Opium perfume bottle for narcotics.
The Incident:
Kapil Raghu, who was delivering pizzas in Arkansas, was pulled over for having a reflective cover on his license plate, according to The Saline Courier. What began as a routine traffic stop quickly escalated when officers discovered a small bottle labeled Opium in his car. Police accused him of possessing narcotics, despite Raghu insisting the bottle contained perfume.
“I was not doing anything wrong when he pulled me over. I was following all regulations,” Raghu said in an interview. “The problem was he didn’t know for what cause he was arresting me. I asked what the arrest was for. I didn’t even know what I did wrong.”
Perfume, Not Narcotics:
The Arkansas State Crime Lab later tested the bottle and confirmed it contained perfume, not opium. However, Raghu had already spent three days in the Saline County Jail.
ICE Detention:
While in jail, immigration authorities discovered that Raghu was in the US on an expired visitor visa. He was transferred to federal immigration custody in Louisiana, where he remained detained for 30 days.
Raghu’s wife stated that they were already in the process of correcting his visa when the arrest occurred. The incident highlights the challenges faced by immigrants in the US and raises concerns about misunderstandings and procedural lapses during law enforcement stops.
Raghu is now pursuing legal channels to restore his visa and move past the ordeal.
