An Indian H-1B worker has filed a lawsuit against a Texas-based company and its Indian-origin owner, accusing them of human trafficking, forced labour and involuntary servitude. Rishikesh Raj Meesala alleged that although he was recruited by a company owned by
Sai Jitender Kalagara, he was forced to fund his own salary and received little or no payment from the employer.
According to the lawsuit, Meesala legally entered the United States on an F-1 student visa, completed his master’s degree in December 2023 and subsequently began working under the Optional Practical Training programme.
In March 2024, Kalagara allegedly recruited Meesala for an H-1B position and promised him lawful employment. His H-1B petition was selected in June 2024, and he formally joined the company on October 1, 2024.
Meesala claimed that he was placed on the “bench,” meaning he was employed but not assigned to a client project.
The company allegedly informed him that he would not be paid while on the bench.
Instead, he was reportedly told to pay the company so that it could continue processing his payroll and help him maintain his legal immigration status.
The lawsuit alleged that the company used Meesala’s dependence on valid payroll records to threaten his immigration status.
“Progress and Kalagara know that USCIS requires regular payroll records for any extension or transfer of an H-1B application. By threatening to stop payroll, they were implicitly threatening Rishi’s immigration status,” the lawsuit stated.
According to the complaint, Meesala handed over approximately $8,800 in cash at the company’s Plano office because he feared losing his legal status in the US.
Meesala alleged that he was not paid for October and November 2024. He reportedly received salaries for December 2024 and January 2025 but was again denied wages from February 2025 until the lawsuit was filed.
The company allegedly demanded more than $10,700 from him towards filing fees, immigration-related costs and other unspecified expenses. It also allegedly threatened to withdraw his H-1B petition unless he made the payments.
The lawsuit further claimed that company officials threatened to report Meesala to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In November 2025, the company allegedly accessed Meesala’s Gmail account to determine whether he was consulting a lawyer about taking legal action. Kalagara also allegedly told Meesala’s father that if his son filed a complaint, he would allow ICE to “deal with it.”
The lawsuit claimed that the company and its owner owe Meesala at least $97,248.94 in unpaid wages and coerced payments. Meesala also alleged that the experience caused him severe mental distress and panic attacks.
The company has not commented on the allegations.
“Benching” is a common term in the IT industry referring to a situation in which an employee remains on a company’s payroll but is temporarily not assigned to a client project.
Under US H-1B labour rules, employers are generally required to pay sponsored employees the required wage even during non-productive periods caused by a lack of work. Unpaid benching may violate US labour regulations.