New Delhi: Events such as Vijay Mallya reaching London, the legal wrangling involving Nirav Modi in the UK and the protracted process of extraditing terror-linked accused like Tahawwur Hussain Rana from the US to India had long raised a major question in the country: can criminals who have fled abroad ever be brought back within the ambit of Indian law?
For a long time, the Modi government faced accusations of lacking the necessary political will and a coordinated strategy to bring back fugitives. But is this truly the reality? In fact, recent data tabled in Parliament has provided a new perspective to this debate. Between 2019 and July 2026, 274 fugitives were brought back to India from 36 countries. These include economic offenders, individuals accused of terror-related activities, organised criminals, gangsters, and those wanted for serious offences such as murder, rape, POCSO violations, drug trafficking and cybercrime.
A criminal based in London, Dubai, Canada, the US, or elsewhere would often remain beyond the reach of Indian law for years. Court cases would drag on, victims would wait for justice, and investigative agencies would continue exchanging correspondence with foreign governments. As time passed, files grew thicker, and apprehensions deepened, leading to a recurring question within the country: would India ever be able to bring its criminals back from foreign soil?
It is regarding this very issue that the Modi government has faced accusations of failure in bringing fugitives back to India. Critics argued that the government lacked the resolve to repatriate those who had fled the country. However, the data that has now emerged tells a different story. It is reported that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, 274 fugitive offenders have been brought back to India from 36 countries between 2014 and July 2026.
Why the flaws in the previous system posed obstacles
According to details presented in Parliament, India’s extradition system faced challenges on multiple fronts prior to 2014. Extradition laws had become outdated and did not align with contemporary needs. There was no specific legislation to confiscate the assets of economic offenders. Coordination between various ministries and investigative agencies lacked structure. Documents submitted to foreign courts were often incomplete, and no standardised system had been developed to prepare documentation in compliance with the diverse legal standards of different countries.
Consequently, between 2004 and 2013, an average of only four fugitives were brought back to India annually, while 110 extradition requests remained pending. In many instances, Indian requests were rejected based on legal principles such as “Dual Criminality” and “Double Jeopardy.” As a result, many accused individuals remained beyond the reach of the law on foreign soil for years.
Strategy transformed through political resolve
The government states that the issue was approached from a fresh perspective after 2014. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the repatriation of fugitive offenders was elevated to a national agenda. Under the guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah, three key pillars were established: a global campaign, robust coordination and smart diplomacy. Based on these pillars, efforts were initiated to establish continuous communication among the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, central investigative agencies, state police forces, Interpol and foreign governments.
Extradition requests began to be prepared in a more professional format. Documents were tailored to meet the specific legal requirements of each country. Where necessary, written assurances were provided to ensure the Indian position could be presented more effectively in foreign courts.
Fugitive Economic Offenders Act Strengthens Legal Powers
The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act was enacted to take effective action against major economic offenders who had fled abroad. This law established a robust legal basis for taking action against the assets of such offenders. The government’s objective was to send a stern message against the trend of committing economic crimes and subsequently fleeing the country. According to the government, this law became a crucial pillar of India’s strategy against financial crimes.
In 2019, the central government implemented the NIA Amendment Act and the UAPA Amendment Act. Following these amendments, the scope of enforcement action was no longer limited to organisations alone; investigative agencies gained greater reach regarding individual terrorists, foreign handlers, funding networks and associates based abroad. The government holds the view that the modern nature of terrorism is not confined by borders. Global cooperation has become essential due to financial networks, digital communication and international linkages. Legal provisions were strengthened in alignment with this perspective.
Three New Criminal Laws Pave a New Path
Special provisions concerning fugitive offenders were incorporated into the three new criminal laws implemented in 2024. For the first time, provisions for ‘Trial in Absentia’ were introduced under Sections 355 and 356 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Under this system, the absence of a fugitive no longer serves as grounds to halt the judicial process indefinitely; courts can proceed with the prosecution under necessary circumstances. The government believes this will make the judicial process more effective and accelerate the pace of prosecution.
India’s Cooperation Grows Globally
In 2022, India hosted the 90th General Assembly of Interpol. From this platform, Home Minister Amit Shah presented three key principles for global policing: Communication, Collaboration, and Cooperation. The government maintains that the rapid exchange of information, mutual trust and institutional cooperation are vital for tackling cross-border crimes. During this period, India also intensified law enforcement cooperation with various nations. Sustained diplomatic dialogue accelerated the extradition process in numerous cases.
‘BharatPol’ Emerges as the New Backbone of the Information Network
In January 2025, Home Minister Amit Shah launched ‘BharatPol’. This platform established a comprehensive information infrastructure by connecting the CBI, state police headquarters, district police units and central investigative agencies with the Interpol network. Today, over 1,400 agencies are linked to this system. Information that previously took weeks to obtain is now available within three to ten days in many instances; in other cases, essential information is shared within ten to twenty days. This accelerated flow of information has made the preparation for extradition-related cases far more systematic.
Tracking Criminals Hiding Abroad Using Technology
Criminals who flee abroad often alter their identities, use new documents, and evade the law by frequently changing their hideouts across different countries. Traditional investigative methods prove inadequate in such scenarios. To address this challenge, India adopted a technology-driven strategy. Through ‘Operation Trishul’, modern measures, such as satellite technology, digital footprint analysis, surveillance and profile mapping, were employed to identify and locate fugitives hiding overseas.
Investigative agencies endeavoured to pinpoint the criminals’ actual whereabouts by analysing their digital activities, contact networks and international movements. Even in cases where criminals attempted to change their names or identities abroad, their true identities were established based on digital traces and intelligence inputs.
Accelerated Action on Red Corner Notices
Interpol’s Red Corner Notice plays a pivotal role in the search for criminals. It serves as a mechanism for international cooperation regarding the identification and arrest of wanted offenders. According to government data, there has been a significant increase in the number of Red Corner Notices issued in recent years.
Year-wise Status
Year 2022 – 40 Red Corner Notices
Year 2023 – 100 Red Corner Notices
Year 2024 – 107 Red Corner Notices
Year 2025 – 112 Red Corner Notices
Year 2026 – 182 Red Corner Notices so far
Red Corner Notices were issued against 401 fugitive offenders over the last three years. This increase demonstrates that India has made international police cooperation a crucial component of its investigative strategy.
Dual Action Against Economic Offenders: Asset Seizure and Recovery of Funds
The government also made action regarding funds and assets a key part of its strategy against economic offenders who fled abroad. Through the effective use of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), assets worth a total of Rs 17,874 crore linked to fugitive economic offenders were seized between 2019 and 2026.
During the same period, successful restitution of Rs 18,762 crore was achieved. This includes funds linked to economic offenders who had fled the country. The objective of this action is to secure assets generated through crime and recover them via legal processes.
CBI’s Global Operations Centre Becomes a Hub for International Coordination
The CBI established a dedicated Global Operations Centre to track down offenders hiding abroad. This centre maintains liaison with law enforcement agencies worldwide through Interpol. Additionally, Interpol Liaison Officers were appointed within state and central investigative agencies, thereby accelerating the exchange of information.
Return of 274 Fugitives: Nature of Crimes
Between 2019 and July 2026, India successfully brought back 274 fugitive offenders from 36 countries. These offenders include individuals accused in various serious cases.
Status by Crime Category
The highest number of offenders-62, were brought back in the category of murder, dacoity and violent crimes. Fifty-three individuals accused in sexual offence and POCSO cases, wanted for serious crimes such as rape and sexual assault, have been brought back to India. Forty-two offenders were brought back in connection with organised crime, gang-related activities and extortion. Eighteen offenders were linked to cases of human trafficking and kidnapping. Seventeen accused were involved in terrorist activities, anti-national acts and narco-terrorism. Sixteen accused were wanted for NDPS and drug trafficking offences. Twelve accused were involved in cases such as cybercrime, counterfeit currency and the smuggling of contraband. Nine economic offenders were brought back.
Increasing Pace of Extradition Year-by-Year
A year-wise breakdown of fugitives brought back from abroad between 2019 and 2026 reveals the following figures: 9 in 2019, 7 in 2020, 23 in 2021, 40 in 2022, 37 in 2023, 43 in 2024, 70 in 2025 and 45 in 2026 (up to July). In total, the Modi government has successfully brought back 274 individuals. A significant surge in these numbers is evident in the years 2025 and 2026. The government attributes this success to international cooperation, improved legal preparedness and enhanced technical capabilities.
The Tahawwur Rana Case: An Example of a Prolonged Legal Battle
The extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana is considered a significant example among internationally high-profile cases. India pursued this matter through extensive legal and diplomatic efforts with the United States. According to the government, this case demonstrates that success can be achieved even in complex terrorism-related matters through sustained legal preparation, international dialogue and diplomatic initiatives.
It is noteworthy that in several cases linked to Jammu and Kashmir, attempts by fugitives and terror network operators based abroad to support cross-border activities have frequently come to light. In such instances, the role of international cooperation becomes even more critical.
‘Whole of Government’ Model: A Collaborative Campaign by Agencies
Multiple agencies have been observed working in tandem to take action against criminals. Agencies playing a collaborative role in this campaign include the 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 GST Intelligence (DGGI), and state police forces. The government describes this approach as the “Whole of Government” model, wherein central and state agencies work together towards a shared objective.
MAC’s Standing Focus Group: Future Strategy
A Standing Focus Group was constituted in January 2026 under the Intelligence Bureau’s Multi-Agency Centre (MAC). Its objectives include identifying priority fugitives, standardising dossiers, bridging information gaps, maintaining regular liaison with foreign agencies and providing national-level support to the states.
New India: No Safe Haven After Committing a Crime
Viewed in this context, the core message of India’s current strategy regarding criminals who have fled abroad is clear: even after escaping overseas following the commission of a crime, the Modi government at the Centre will track down all such offenders and bring them back to India.
Indeed, the return of 274 criminals, the issuance of 401 Red Corner Notices, the confiscation of assets worth thousands of crores of rupees, digital platforms like ‘Bharatpol’ and enhanced capabilities for international cooperation all signal that India has broadened its strategy against cross-border crime. Today, the message to criminals hiding abroad is unequivocal: changing one’s location does not erase the crime. The Modi government at the Centre will continue to bring Indian criminals back from foreign soil, come what may and ensure they are punished for their offenses!
