India Brings Back 274 Fugitive Criminals From 36 Countries Between 2021 and 2026

The Ministry said that to strengthen legal action against fugitives, the government enacted the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act in 2018. It added that the law enabled stronger measures against economic offenders and helped address challenges related to fugitive cases.

The Ministry highlighted that before 2014, India had extradition treaties with only 37 countries and there was no dedicated law to deal with economic fugitives or confiscate their assets.

It stated that between 2004 and 2013, India secured the extradition of only four fugitives per year on average, while 110 extradition requests remained pending. The Ministry said that previous governments lacked the political will to bring back fugitives, while the current government has made the extradition of fugitives a “national priority”.

Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised a three-pronged strategy against fugitives, including global outreach, strong coordination and smart diplomacy. Mr Shah described the issue of fugitive offenders as one that is intrinsically linked to the country’s sovereignty, economic stability, law and order, and national security.

The Ministry further noted that there has been a significant increase in the issuance of INTERPOL Red Corner Notices in the last three years. It said that notices have also been issued against 401 fugitive criminals.

The government launched BHARATPOL, connecting more than one thousand-four hundred agencies with INTERPOL and reducing the time required for information sharing to 3 to 10 days.

The Ministry highlighted that the government used satellite technology and digital footprints to geo-locate fugitive criminals hiding abroad after changing their names and identities through Operation Trishul.

The government’s intelligence-based and technology-driven approach, along with international coordination efforts, has become a key part of India’s strategy to track and bring back fugitive criminals from foreign locations.