Measures to strengthen India’s extradition framework

• As many as 274 fugitives have been repatriated from 36 countries since 2019, the  Ministry of Home Affairs said on August 4.

• The fugitives brought back to India include individuals wanted in terrorism, gangsters, financial offenders, accused in narcotics cases, and individuals wanted in cases of murder, rape, and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

• The campaign to bring fugitives back to India extends across cases involving terrorism, pro-Khalistan extremism, the gangster-terror nexus, narcotics trafficking, cyber fraud, and fake currency. 

• Assets worth Rs 17,874 crore belonging to fugitives have also been attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) during the period.

Who is a fugitive?

• A fugitive is someone who is attempting to evade justice. 

An individual can become a fugitive under various circumstances: 

i) They could have been charged with a violation of the law but not been arrested.

ii) They could have been released on bail and then fled to avoid prosecution.

iii) They could have escaped from prison.

• Fugitives pose a serious threat to public safety worldwide. 

• They are mobile, travelling between countries (sometimes using stolen or fraudulent travel documents), and opportunistic, often financing their continued flight from the law through further criminal activities.

Strategy against fugitives absconded abroad

• Over the years, India has developed an integrated, intelligence-based, and technology-driven model against fugitives, paving the way for stricter measures against them and facilitating their return to India.

• Global outreach, strong coordination, and smart diplomacy are key for repatriation.

The effort to bring fugitives has been driven by close coordination among:

• Intelligence Bureau (IB)

• Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

• Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)

• National Investigation Agency (NIA)

• Enforcement Directorate (ED)

• Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)

• Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)

• Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DGGI)

• State police forces.

More teeth to law

• The Extradition Act, 1962, as amended from time to time, provides the legislative basis for extradition of a fugitive criminal from India. 

• The government enacted the NIA (Amendment) Act and the UAPA (Amendment) Act in 2019.

• The government implemented three new criminal laws, incorporating special provisions relating to fugitive offenders. 

• For the first time, Sections 355 and 356 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) provide for trial in absentia, enabling the entire judicial process — from trial to prosecution — to be completed even in the absence of a fugitive accused.

• The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was strictly enforced.

• To strengthen international efforts to trace and apprehend fugitives, the CBI has established a Special Global Operations Centre. The Centre coordinates in real time with police agencies across the world through Interpol, enabling faster tracking and apprehension of fugitives. 

Use of profile mapping

Many fugitives had changed their names or identities while residing abroad. However, through use of advanced technology and profile mapping, Indian agencies were able to identify and trace them. Technology has also been leveraged to expedite extradition proceedings, including the use of video conferencing for court hearings, thereby helping to accelerate the legal process.

Launch of BHARATPOL

The home ministry launched BHARATPOL in January 2025. It created a comprehensive information infrastructure by integrating the CBI, state police headquarters (through Interpol Liaison Officers), and district police headquarters onto a single platform. Under this initiative, more than 1,400 units of state and central agencies have been connected through the portal, ensuring seamless flow of information. As a result, the response time for information-sharing between the CBI and other law enforcement agencies has been significantly reduced. 

Interpol Red Notices

The number of Interpol Red Notices issued has increased significantly in recent years. As many as 40 Red Corner Notices were issued in 2022, 100 in 2023, 107 in 2024, 112 in 2025, and 182 have already been issued in 2026 so far. A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

Operation Trishul

To strengthen efforts to trace fugitive offenders, ‘Operation Trishul’ was launched to geo-locate absconding criminals. Under this initiative, with the support of Interpol, the locations of concealed fugitives were established using satellite inputs, surveillance, and digital footprint analysis. 

IB’s Multi-Agency Centre (MAC)

The constitution of a Standing Focus Group under the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) in January 2026 marks a significant institutional step in strengthening India's fugitive management framework. The Group is responsible for prioritising fugitive cases, standardising dossiers, bridging information gaps, ensuring sustained follow-up with foreign partners, and providing national-level support to cases initiated by state agencies.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)