CBI facilitated return of 134 fugitives from abroad in past 5 years
The CBI has succeeded in facilitating the return of 134 fugitives from abroad in the last five years — nearly twice the number of repatriated persons over an entire decade between 2010 and 2019, officials said.
Coordinating closely with Interpol as well as state and central enforcement agencies, the CBI was able to secure the extradition or deportation of these 134 fugitives since 2020. Of these, 23 were brought back this year alone.
In contrast, only 74 fugitives were brought back during the decade between 2010 and 2019.
The uptick in the success rate can easily be attributed to enhanced diplomatic engagements by the government, India’s outreach through VVIP visits, bilateral ties, technological advancements, and improved coordination with Interpol, the officials said.
The process of extradition has three stages: issuance of a Red Notice by Interpol, geolocation of the fugitive, and third, extradition after legal and diplomatic manoeuvres, all of which are time-consuming processes.
To reduce the time required to issue a Red Notice by Interpol, which alerts all 195 countries about a fugitive wanted in a country, the CBI launched its digital portal Bharatpol in January.