CBI Brings Back 134 Fugitives From Abroad in 5 Years, Nearly Doubling Past Decade’s Tally
New Delhi, July 17 – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully helped bring back 134 fugitives hiding overseas over the past five years, nearly twice the number repatriated during the entire decade from 2010 to 2019, officials said.
This achievement was made possible through close coordination with Interpol and various national and international enforcement agencies. Of the 134 fugitives returned since 2020, 23 were repatriated in 2024 alone. In comparison, only 74 fugitives were extradited or deported between 2010 and 2019.
Officials credit this surge in successful extraditions to stronger diplomatic ties, more frequent high-level visits abroad, improved technology, and more efficient cooperation with Interpol.
Extradition typically involves three phases: issuing a Red Notice via Interpol, locating the individual, and completing legal and diplomatic steps for extradition — a process known to be time-intensive. To speed things up, the CBI launched its own digital portal, Bharatpol, in January. Built in-house, Bharatpol links Indian police with Interpol through the CBI, reducing the time needed to issue Red Notices from six months to just three.
Officials noted that Bharatpol has streamlined paperwork and eliminated delays caused by officials not being familiar with Interpol’s documentation standards. It has also reduced unnecessary back-and-forth between agencies.
Diplomatic efforts have also played a critical role, with ambassadors, high commissioners, and the Ministry of External Affairs actively contributing to extradition negotiations. The CBI’s Global Operations Centre further supports these efforts by engaging directly with foreign enforcement agencies.
A major example of this cooperation was the arrest of Nehal Modi, brother of Nirav Modi, in the United States. Nehal, released from a New York prison on July 4, was arrested immediately after following coordination between the CBI and U.S. authorities. He now faces extradition proceedings. Meanwhile, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi remain in custody in the UK and Belgium, respectively, with India continuing to seek their extradition.
Last week, the CBI also secured the extradition of Monika Kapoor, an economic offender who had fled to the U.S. in 1999. After a prolonged legal process, she was brought back on July 9.
India has also cooperated in returning fugitives wanted by other countries. In March, Aleksej Besciokov, a Lithuanian national wanted by the U.S. for laundering millions via his platform “Grantax,” was arrested in Kerala in a joint CBI–Kerala Police operation.
In parallel, the CBI has initiated legal action against fugitives who fled to India from Gulf nations. Acting on international complaints — especially from the U.S., Germany, and Japan — the CBI has dismantled several cybercrime networks and seized cryptocurrencies worth ₹30–40 crore.
According to official data, 65 extradition requests from India were still pending with the United States as of December 2024. The Gulf region, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has become a crucial partner in India’s extradition efforts, thanks to strengthened diplomatic ties.
In 2025, several fugitives were returned from the UAE, including narcotics producer Kubbawala Mustafa, drug trafficker Taher Salim Dolais, scammer Upavan Pavan Jain, fake currency trafficker Moideenabba Ummer Beary, and Suhail Basheer, all wanted by various Indian agencies.
Despite progress, extradition from certain countries remains slow due to local legal barriers. However, persistent diplomatic efforts have led to the capture of several high-priority targets.
India has formal extradition treaties with 48 countries and extradition arrangements with 12 others. Events such as the 2022 Interpol General Assembly and the G20 Summit in India have further accelerated cooperation.
During the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong call to speed up extraditions and eliminate safe havens for criminals. “There can be no safe havens for the corrupt, terrorists, drug cartels, poaching gangs or organised crime. Such crimes… are crimes against humanity,” he said. Home Minister Amit Shah echoed this, advocating for a permanent Interpol system for real-time information sharing among global counterterrorism agencies.
