Amit Shah Unveils National Strategy to Fast-Track Extradition of Fugitives

Addressing the gathering, Shri Amit Shah asserted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has emerged as a confident and assertive power on the global stage.

In a major policy address at the National Conference on ‘Extradition of Fugitives: Challenges and Strategies’ organized by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah outlined a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen India’s global pursuit of fugitive criminals. The event, attended by the Union Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Director of Intelligence Bureau, and Director of the CBI, marked a significant step toward tightening international cooperation and ensuring justice beyond India’s borders.

A Vision for Stronger Law Enforcement Beyond Borders

Addressing the gathering, Shri Amit Shah asserted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has emerged as a confident and assertive power on the global stage. He emphasized that national security today extends beyond physical borders, requiring equal attention to external threats that impact sovereignty, financial integrity, and law enforcement.

He reiterated India’s zero-tolerance policy against corruption, crime, and terrorism — both domestic and transnational — and stressed the need to ensure that fugitives who flee India face justice without delay. “It must be our collective resolve,” he said, “that no matter how cunning or well-connected a criminal may be, the reach of justice must be faster and stronger.”

The Home Minister lauded the CBI for operationalizing the concept of fugitive extradition, an idea he had earlier proposed, and praised the agency for institutionalizing global coordination frameworks to trace and return offenders.

Linking Justice, Diplomacy, and Technology

Shri Shah stated that the two-day conference would focus on the synergy between Global Operations, Strong Coordination, and Smart Diplomacy. The deliberations, he noted, would directly contribute to India’s efforts to strengthen law enforcement and financial integrity.

He said that seven specialized sessions during the conference would cover critical themes such as:

• The use of cyber technology and data intelligence for tracing fugitives.

• Strategies for combating financial crimes and money laundering.

• Simplifying complex extradition procedures and enhancing cooperation with Interpol.

• Creating global databases to track fugitives’ movements and support timely extradition.

Strengthening National Security Through Legal Reform

Shri Amit Shah underscored that the issue of fugitive criminals is closely tied to national sovereignty, economic stability, and security, and that a structured national framework is now taking shape. He outlined a two-pronged approach based on assurance and ecosystem: eliminating the confidence fugitives have in evading justice, and dismantling the institutional, financial, and political networks that protect them abroad.

He proposed that each state establish a dedicated extradition unit under CBI guidance, ensuring coordination between state police, central agencies, and international counterparts. The Home Minister highlighted that a “Whole of Government” approach is crucial to ensure every fugitive is brought back swiftly.

Major Legal Reforms and Enforcement Successes

Highlighting legislative reforms, Shri Shah pointed out that the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (2018) has empowered the government to seize assets of fugitives. Over the past four years, assets worth nearly USD 2 billion have been recovered. Additionally, the Money Laundering Act has been made more stringent, leading to the attachment of assets worth USD 12 billion between 2014 and 2023.

He revealed that the CBI’s Global Operation Centre, launched to coordinate real-time efforts with international law enforcement, has yielded significant results — including the issuance of over 190 Red Corner Notices between January and September 2025, the highest in India’s history. Initiatives such as “Operation Trishul” and the newly formed BHARATPOL network have greatly enhanced India’s global law enforcement presence.

Transformative Criminal Law Reforms

The Home Minister described the replacement of colonial-era laws with three new criminal codes — including the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) — as the biggest legal reform of the 21st century. He announced that by 2027, all cases, including appeals up to the Supreme Court, would be disposed of within three years, revolutionizing the pace of justice delivery.

Crucially, he drew attention to Sections 355 and 356 of the BNSS, which introduce the provision of Trial in Absentia for the first time in India’s history. Under this, if a person is declared a fugitive, the court can proceed with the trial in their absence, appointing legal representation on their behalf. “This provision,” Shri Shah said, “fundamentally changes a fugitive’s legal status under international law, compelling global agencies to treat their conviction as valid.”

Building a Unified Extradition Framework

Shri Amit Shah directed that actionable outcomes from the conference be integrated with BHARATPOL and Trial in Absentia provisions to create a nationwide extradition mechanism, jointly managed by the CBI and state police forces. He proposed the creation of:

• A centralized fugitive database accessible to all law enforcement agencies.

• State-level coordination groups targeting narcotics, terrorism, gang crimes, and cyber offenses.

• Expert Special Cells in each state to prepare extradition cases, supported by a dedicated CBI division to review and guide them.

He also suggested that each state establish special high-security prisons for fugitives, built to international standards, and that protocols be established between passport offices and police agencies to automatically red-flag passports when Red Corner Notices are initiated.

Further, he called for a nationwide campaign to upgrade Blue Corner Notices to Red Corner Notices and urged the IB and CBI to form a joint task force under the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) for real-time intelligence exchange.

A Message of Resolve and Global Credibility

Concluding his address, the Home Minister emphasized that India’s global credibility in law enforcement depends on its ability to bring every offender, regardless of their location, under the ambit of Indian justice. “India cannot be truly secure,” he said, “until those residing abroad who harm our economy and sovereignty begin to fear the Indian legal system.”

Shri Amit Shah’s address outlined not only a policy blueprint but also a national mission — one that integrates diplomacy, law, and technology to make India’s justice system both fearless and borderless.