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Raghu, who is married to an American citizen and was in the process of obtaining permanent residency, was pulled over by Benton police on 3 May for traffic violation.
Indian-Origin Man, Kapil Raghu’s, US Visa Revoked, Faces Deportation After Perfume Labelled ‘Opium’ Mistaken For Narcotics
An Indian-origin man in Arkansas, Kapil Raghu, is fighting to have his US visa reinstated after a wrongful arrest that stemmed from a misunderstanding during a routine traffic stop. Local police allegedly mistook a bottle of designer perfume labelled “Opium” for the banned drug, leading to Raghu’s detention and the subsequent revocation of his visa.
What do we know about the arrest?
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Raghu, who is married to an American citizen and was in the process of obtaining permanent residency, was pulled over by Benton police on 3 May for a minor traffic violation. Officers discovered a small bottle marked “Opium” in his vehicle and assumed it contained an illegal substance.
Despite Raghu’s repeated explanations that the bottle contained perfume, he was arrested on suspicion of drug possession. Bodycam footage reportedly captured the officers telling him, “You got a vial of opium that was in your centre console.” Raghu, who was working as a food delivery driver at the time, later told local newspaper ‘The Saline Courier’ that he had fully cooperated and was bewildered by the incident.
Perfume confirmed harmless, but legal fallout continues
Subsequent testing by the Arkansas State Crime Lab confirmed that the bottle did not contain narcotics. However, Raghu spent three days in Saline County Jail, where immigration authorities identified what they described as a visa irregularity. His lawyer, Mike Laux, said the issue resulted from an “administrative error” made by Raghu’s previous attorney.
Following the arrest, Raghu was transferred to a federal US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Louisiana, where he was detained for 30 days. Although the narcotics charge was dropped by a district court on 20 May, his visa was revoked during detention, leaving him without legal status and at risk of deportation.
“It is my understanding that, though released, Kapil now has a ‘deportation’ status, meaning he can be immediately deported for any minor offence, even jaywalking,” Laux told The Guardian. “More crucially, this classification bars him from working and supporting his family, which has been devastating for them.”
In a letter to ICE’s legal office, Raghu said the visa issue stemmed from his lawyer’s delay in filing paperwork and requested reinstatement of his status. “The mounting legal fees and the pressure of not being able to contribute have created a difficult situation for our family,” he wrote. “My wife is carrying the entire financial burden.”
His wife, Alhley Mays, said the ordeal has taken an emotional and financial toll. The couple, who married in April, have exhausted their savings, originally intended to buy a home, and Mays now works three jobs to pay legal costs.
“This doesn’t just affect Kapil and me. My daughter sees him as a father figure,” she said. “It was just cologne… If a cop gets behind me now, I panic.”
Raghu’s lawyer also accused Benton police of breaching international law by failing to notify the Indian Consulate, as required under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. The US Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, has yet to issue a statement.
About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public…Read More
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public… Read More
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October 07, 2025, 07:21 IST
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