Increase in Extradition of Fugitives from India Over the Past Five Years Doubled
In 2025, India has seen a significant surge in the extradition of fugitives, with 23 individuals returned to face justice - nearly double the number extradited from 2010 to 2019. This rise can be attributed to a variety of factors and key partnerships.
One of the primary contributors to this increase is the strengthening of bilateral and multilateral agreements. These treaties and agreements, such as those with the Gulf region's key partners like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, clarify legal procedures and obligations for both parties, facilitating the extradition process.
International cooperation is another crucial factor. Increased collaboration between law enforcement agencies across countries, aided by international organizations like Interpol, helps in identifying and locating fugitives. India's partnership with Interpol, for instance, has been instrumental in issuing red notices for wanted individuals.
Legal and judicial reforms, technological advancements, and improved coordination with other nations also play significant roles in expediting extradition procedures. For example, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has established a Global Operations Centre to work more closely with law enforcement agencies worldwide, speeding up India's requests for extradition.
The CBI's digital portal, 'Bharatpol', launched in January, connects Indian police with Interpol, cutting the time taken to issue a "Red Notice" in half. India currently has extradition treaties with 48 countries and special arrangements with 12 others, providing a strong foundation for these collaborative efforts.
Recent successes include the arrest of Nehal Modi in the United States, a notable result from these coordinated efforts. Nehal, the brother of Nirav Modi, the main accused in the massive Punjab National Bank fraud case, was arrested upon his release from a New York prison, thanks to the CBI contacting US authorities a month before his scheduled release.
India has been actively helping other nations capture fugitives who have sought refuge in India. Last week, Monika Kapoor, an economic offender who fled to the US in 1999, was successfully extradited to India after a long legal battle.
India's efforts in extradition are not limited to high-profile cases. The country has been cracking down on cybercriminals who cheat foreign citizens, leading to the seizure of crores of rupees in cryptocurrency.
High-profile events like the 2022 Interpol General Assembly and the G20 Summit, both hosted in India, have helped to push the agenda for international cooperation in extradition efforts. During the G20 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a call for international cooperation against safe havens for the corrupt, terrorists, drug cartels, poaching gangs, and organized crime.
Despite some legal challenges that can slow down the extradition process, persistent diplomatic efforts are yielding results even in difficult jurisdictions. The increase in repatriations is a testament to India's commitment to justice and its growing influence on the global stage.
- Technology has played a significant role in expediting extradition procedures, as seen with the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) digital portal, 'Bharatpol', which connects Indian police with Interpol, making the process of issuing a "Red Notice" faster.
- The rise in extradition cases in India is also tied to sports, politics, and policy-and-legislation, as is evident in the arrest of Nehal Modi, a fugitive wanted for his role in the massive Punjab National Bank fraud case, who was extradited from the United States.
- In the realm of general news and crime-and-justice, India has made efforts to help other countries capture fugitives seeking refuge, such as the extradition of Monika Kapoor, an economic offender who sought asylum in the US, after a lengthy legal battle.
