CBI Secures Return of 134 Fugitives in 5 Years, Nearly Doubling Previous Decade's Total
India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has facilitated the return of 134 fugitives from abroad since 2020, a sharp increase from the 74 repatriated between 2010 and 2019. Officials attribute the success to enhanced diplomatic engagement, improved international coordination through Interpol, and new technology like the 'Bharatpol' digital portal, which has cut Red Notice issuance times by half. A recent success includes the arrest of Nehal Modi, brother of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, in the U.S. for extradition proceedings.
Unpacked:
Many of the fugitives brought back to India are accused of financial crimes, such as large-scale bank fraud, money laundering, and scams. However, some are also wanted for terrorism, murder, and organized crime activities. High-profile economic offenders like Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, and Vijay Mallya are among those sought by Indian authorities.
India faces challenges such as lengthy legal proceedings, fugitives claiming political asylum or citing human rights concerns, and complex extradition treaties. Some countries require strong evidence and may be reluctant to extradite if there are concerns about the fairness of the Indian legal system or the condition of prisons.
The 'Bharatpol' digital portal has been instrumental in speeding up procedures, particularly by reducing the time needed to issue Interpol Red Notices by half. This enables Indian authorities to alert foreign agencies and locate fugitives more quickly, leading to more timely arrests and extraditions or deportations.
India has seen a marked improvement: 134 fugitives were brought back since 2020, compared to just 74 in the previous decade. This progress is attributed to more robust diplomatic engagement, improved coordination with Interpol, and enhanced technological tools.