NEW DELHI, Aug. 4 (ANI) — India has brought back 274 fugitives from 36 countries between 2019 and 2026. The suspects include terrorists, gangsters, financial and narcotics offenders, and individuals wanted in cases involving murder, rape, and offenses under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said Tuesday.
The ministry also said assets worth 17,874 crore rupees belonging to fugitive criminals were attached during the same period through enforcement of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
An additional 18,762 crore rupees has been returned in cases involving fugitive economic offenders, the ministry said. It added that 40 Interpol Red Notices were issued in 2022, 100 in 2023, 107 in 2024, 112 in 2025, and 182 have already been issued in 2026. Over the past three years, a total of 501 Red Notices have been issued against fugitive criminals.
According to the MHA, 45 fugitives were brought back to India through July this year, following 70 in 2025, the highest annual total during the period. India also secured the return of 43 fugitives in 2024, 37 in 2023, 40 in 2022, 23 in 2021, seven in 2020, and nine in 2019.
The fugitives were wanted in connection with fraud, financial crimes, terrorist activities, anti-national activities, narco-terrorism, organized crime, extortion, murder, robbery, violent crime, sexual offenses, rape, POCSO violations, narcotics offenses, violations of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, drug trafficking, smuggling, counterfeit currency, cybercrime, contraband, human trafficking, kidnapping, and other offenses.
Among the 274 fugitives, 62 were wanted in murder, robbery, and violent crime cases; 53 for sexual offenses, rape, and POCSO violations; 45 for other criminal activities; 42 for organized crime, gang-related offenses, and extortion; 18 for human trafficking and kidnapping; 17 for terrorist activities, anti-national activities, and narco-terrorism; 16 for narcotics offenses and drug trafficking; 12 for smuggling, counterfeit currency, cybercrime, and contraband offenses; and nine for fraud and financial crimes.
“Taking a decisive stance against fugitive criminals, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, India has brought back 274 fugitive criminals from 36 countries since 2019. To strengthen action against fugitives, PM Modi enacted the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act in 2018. Under the guidance of Home Minister Shah, 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,” the ministry said in a statement.
The MHA said that before 2014, India’s extradition framework had become outdated, with extradition treaties in place with only 37 countries. It also said there was no dedicated law to deal with fugitive economic offenders or confiscate their assets.
Between 2004 and 2013, India secured the extradition of an average of only four fugitives per year, while 110 extradition requests remained pending, according to the ministry. Incomplete documentation and slow processing often made extradition proceedings cumbersome, leading foreign courts to reject requests.
The ministry said India’s extradition efforts also faced legal and judicial hurdles, including the principles of double jeopardy and dual criminality, which frequently resulted in extradition requests being denied. It added that limited coordination and the absence of a unified strategy among government agencies hindered progress, while information sharing, fugitive tracking, and the issuance of Interpol Red Notices moved slowly.
The MHA said previous governments lacked the political will to bring fugitives back to India, while the Modi government has made extradition a national priority.
According to the ministry, the government has adopted a three-pronged strategy based on global outreach, strong interagency coordination, and diplomatic engagement. Home Minister Amit Shah has described fugitive offenders as a threat to India’s sovereignty, economic stability, law and order, and national security.
The ministry said stricter enforcement of the PMLA led to the attachment of assets worth 17,874 crore rupees belonging to fugitive criminals between 2019 and 2026.
It also said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has established a Special Global Operations Centre to strengthen international efforts to trace and apprehend fugitives. The center coordinates in real time with law enforcement agencies worldwide through Interpol, enabling faster tracking and arrests.
To improve information sharing, the CBI has designated Interpol Contact Officers in every state and across all central investigating agencies, significantly enhancing coordination and international cooperation in fugitive investigations.
The MHA said the number of Interpol Red Notices issued has increased significantly in recent years. To strengthen efforts to locate fugitives, authorities launched Operation Trishul, which uses satellite data, surveillance, digital footprint analysis, and Interpol support to geo-locate absconding criminals.
The ministry said many fugitives had changed their names or identities while living abroad. However, Indian agencies were able to identify and trace them using advanced technology and profile mapping. Technology has also been used to speed up extradition proceedings, including through video conferencing for court hearings.
The extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana from the United States was cited as a significant example of India’s sustained legal and diplomatic efforts in pursuing complex terrorism cases.
The ministry also said fugitives operating from abroad have played roles in supporting terrorism, narco-terrorism, and cross-border networks related to Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the MHA, India’s success in bringing fugitives back is the result of legal preparation, diplomatic engagement, institutional credibility, and sustained follow-up rather than chance.
The ministry said close coordination among 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 Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DGGI), and state police forces reflects a whole-of-government approach to ensuring the return of fugitives and delivering justice to victims.
The ministry added that the establishment of a Standing Focus Group under the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) of the Intelligence Bureau in January 2026 marked a significant institutional step in strengthening India’s fugitive management framework.
According to the MHA, the group is responsible for prioritizing fugitive cases, standardizing case dossiers, addressing information gaps, ensuring sustained follow-up with foreign partners, and providing national-level support to cases initiated by state agencies.
“Fugitives operating from abroad are not dormant case files—they represent live operational threats that require sustained, coordinated, and proactive action,” the ministry said. (ANI)
About The Author
