Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, addressed the conference on “Extradition of Fugitives: Challenges and Strategies” organized by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as the Chief Guest in New Delhi. The event was attended by dignitaries including the Union Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Director of the Intelligence Bureau, and Director of CBI.
Modi Government’s Commitment to National Security
In his address, Shri Amit Shah highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is advancing confidently on the global stage while prioritizing all aspects of national security. He stressed the importance of a zero-tolerance policy against corruption, crime, and terrorism, both domestically and from abroad. The conference, aligned with Interpol provisions and three new criminal laws, aims to facilitate the extradition of fugitives and provide a roadmap for their appearance before Indian courts.
Shri Shah commended the CBI for implementing his earlier suggestion on fugitive extradition, turning it into actionable ground-level efforts.
Ensuring Swift Justice for Fugitives
The Home Minister emphasized a collective resolve to outpace even the most cunning criminals with swifter justice. Under Modi’s leadership, India is fortifying border security alongside the Rule of Law. The two-day conference focuses on global operations, strong coordination, and smart diplomacy to enhance national security, economic prosperity, and policy frameworks.
Discussions will cover seven sessions on topics like cyber technology, financial crimes, fund tracing, extradition processes, fugitive repatriation, location databases, and international police cooperation.
Link Between Fugitives and National Interests
Shri Shah linked fugitive criminals to India’s sovereignty, economic stability, law and order, and security. He noted that a structured approach is finally being developed after a long gap. The time has come for a ruthless, time-bound system to bring every fugitive— involved in economic, cyber, terrorist, or organized crimes—before Indian justice.
Key elements include dismantling fugitives’ false assurance that Indian law cannot reach them and eroding their legal, financial, and political support ecosystems abroad.
Objectives and Processes for Effective Extradition
The Indian extradition system requires clear purpose and process. Objectives include extending justice beyond borders, modernizing identification systems for national security, boosting international credibility in law and judiciary, protecting the economy through global partnerships, and promoting the Rule of Law worldwide.
Improvements involve seamless communication, strategic approaches, and organized execution.
State-Level Initiatives and Collaboration
Shri Shah urged every state, in collaboration with CBI, to establish dedicated units for repatriating fugitives. This should accelerate via a Whole of Government approach.
He recommended setting up focused coordination groups in state police forces for narcotics, terrorism, gangsters, financial, and cyber crimes, strengthened by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and CBI through the Multi Agency Centre (MAC).
Expert Cells and Special Prisons
Each state police should promptly create an Expert Special Cell for extradition case preparation, guided by a dedicated CBI division for reviewing requests.
Special prisons for fugitives, meeting international standards, should be established in every state.
Reforms and Achievements Under Modi Government
Since 2014, reforms include the 2018 Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, enabling seizure of fugitives’ Indian assets, recovering nearly 2 billion dollars in four years. The Money Laundering Act has been strengthened, attaching assets worth about 12 billion dollars from 2014-2023.
CBI’s Global Operation Centre coordinates real-time with global police. From January to September 2025, over 190 Red Corner Notices were issued—the highest in CBI history. Operations like ‘Trishul’ and BHARATPOL (established January 2025) have yielded positive results.
New Criminal Laws and Trial in Absentia
The Modi government replaced colonial-era laws with three new criminal laws—the biggest 21st-century reform. By 2027, justice up to the Supreme Court will be delivered within three years.
Sections 355 and 356 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) introduce Trial in Absentia for the first time post-independence. Courts can proceed without the fugitive, appointing a lawyer, altering their international status upon conviction. This provision should be maximally utilized.
Integrated Mechanisms and Future Steps
Actionable conference points, combined with BHARATPOL and Trial in Absentia, should form a nationwide mechanism overseen by CBI, with shared fugitive databases.
Enhance coordination between passport issuance and law enforcement to red-flag passports during Red Corner Notice processes. Launch campaigns to convert Blue Corner Notices to Red, with dedicated state cells. Under MAC, CBI and IB should form a special task force for smooth implementation.
Shri Shah concluded that true national security requires fugitives abroad—harming India’s economy, sovereignty, and security—to fear the Indian justice system.