Indian H-1B Worker Sues Company Run By Fellow Indian

Even as US President Donald Trump’s proclamation raising the H-1B fees to a staggering $100,000 for new applicants continues to face legal battles in the federal courts before taking full effect, Indian students appear to be already facing the consequences of the new immigration rule.

Interestingly, a federal lawsuit filed in Texas has now become a topic of discussion among the Indian community due to allegations of severe workplace abuse, financial coercion, and immigration-related intimidation within the H-1B visa program. What is more shocking is that an Indian worker is accusing a staffing firm operated by a fellow Indian national of exploitation in this legal case.

The lawsuit, Meesala v. Progress Solutions, Inc., was initiated in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas by Rishikesh Raj Meesala, an Indian national who originally arrived in the United States as an international student. After earning his master’s degree, Meesala secured his H-1B employment visa status through Progress Solutions Inc., a Texas-based staffing firm.

Rishikesh Raj has serious levelled allegations of intimidation and extortion against the firm and its CEO Sai Jitender Kalagara, who is also of Indian origin.

According to the legal complaint filed by Meesala’s legal counsel, Banias Law, the alleged exploitation began shortly after his H-1B employment took effect in October 2024. The lawsuit alleges that the company has placed him on bench without assigning him any project and refused to pay him any salary.

He also alleged that the company demanded cash payments in exchange for withholding his crucial payroll logs and employment records which are crucial for his H-1B processing. He further claimed he paid the cash under extreme duress to avoid jeopardizing his right to stay and work in the United States.

Though the lawsuit was initially filed in November 2025, it has now garnered renewed public attention following media coverage of the leverage dynamics used against temporary visa holders in the ongoing H-1B processing.

The allegations have not yet been proved in court. Progress Solutions Inc. and its CEO have formally denied the accusations and filed the responses. The litigation remains active, and a formal jury trial is currently scheduled to begin in November 2026.