India, April 11 -- The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a plea seeking directions to the Centre to take steps to facilitate the safe repatriation of 26 Indian citizens who have allegedly been detained in Russia and forced to fight in the ongoing war with Ukraine.

Taking note of the plea, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was present in the court, to take instructions on the issue.

The counsel appearing for the petitioners told the bench that these 26 individuals were Indian citizens who were stuck in Russia. He claimed that they were compelled to take part in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

Mehta told the bench that he would ...