An Indian man will be deported from New Zealand after being caught in an underage sex ring. (Photo: NZ Herald)
An Indian man, Nishanth Parakodil Prahaldhan, is facing deportation from New Zealand after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl who he thought was 19. The 25-year-old migrant worker contacted the girl in 2023 once and paid $250.
He sent a message and tried to contact the girl again but did not meet up with her. When the gang was busted, he was arrested and charged with entering into a contract to provide sexual services from a minor, and he pleaded guilty.In 2025, he sought to be released without conviction because his visa status would be affected. But he was found guilty and sentenced to six months and two weeks’ home confinement. As a result of this conviction, Immigration New Zealand sent him a Removal Liability Notice.
After the review was denied, Prahaldan appealed to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal on humanitarian grounds.Prahaldan filed an appeal and said he pleaded guilty without understanding. He said he was sending money for his mother’s cancer treatment in India. He also said that he would face stigma and ostracism if he returned to India. He may become a victim of vigilante groups and struggle to find work in India.
The court decided that these factors were not strong enough to cancel his deportation and decided to return him to India. The court said he may face stigma if his conviction becomes known in India, but said he may move elsewhere in India to make a fresh start.“Although having to leave New Zealand earlier than planned would be distressing and disappointing for the appellant, the Court finds that he has not demonstrated circumstances which, either individually or cumulatively, amount to exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian nature,” the Court ruled.
“Moreover, a return to India would be a return to a country with which he remains familiar and retains close family and cultural ties.
“However, the court granted Prahaldan a six-month work visa to allow him to remain in New Zealand temporarily to put his affairs in order and continue supporting his family before returning to India. “There are clear indications that the appellant is unlikely to reoffend. As such, he is unlikely to pose a risk to the public during the additional period that he will be able to remain here.”
