How is India strengthening its extradition framework?

The Indian Government has made the extradition of fugitives a stated national priority. In conjunction with this policy, it has made a concerted effort to increase its cooperation with INTERPOL. In an August 2026 press release, the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that 274 fugitive criminals were brought back to India from 36 countries between 2019 and July 2026, which represents a dramatic escalation compared to previous decades. The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has also reaffirmed its commitment to extraditing economic offenders. If you are an Indian national living abroad, or have business interests connected to India, understanding these developments is essential to protecting your rights and your liberty.

At Gherson, our specialist extradition and INTERPOL team advises individuals facing cross-border criminal proceedings, Red Notices and extradition requests. This article explains what has changed, why it matters and what you should do if you believe you may be affected.

How the Indian Government is strengthening its extradition framework

Legislative reforms enabling trial in absentia

India’s new criminal code – the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), implemented in 2024 – contains provisions that allow trials to proceed in absentia against accused persons and alleged fugitives. This means that if you are outside India, the entire judicial process, including conviction and sentencing, can now be completed without your presence. Under the previous Code of Criminal Procedure, courts could only record evidence in the absence of an absconding accused – they could not conduct a full trial or deliver a conviction in absentia. The BNSS has fundamentally changed this by empowering courts to try, convict and sentence proclaimed offenders without their presence.

Separately, the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act 2018 allows courts to confiscate the property of declared fugitive economic offenders without a criminal conviction. Once declared a fugitive economic offender, an individual is also barred from initiating or defending civil claims in Indian courts – a measure with far-reaching consequences for anyone with assets or commercial interests in India.

Technology-driven enforcement

The Indian Government has adopted what it described as an ‘integrated, intelligence-led and technology-driven’ approach. ‘Operation Trishul’, launched to geo-locate absconding criminals, uses satellite inputs, digital footprints, surveillance technology and profile mapping to trace fugitives who have changed their identities while living abroad. Video conferencing is also being used to expedite extradition hearings, significantly accelerating proceedings that might previously have taken years.

BHARATPOL and enhanced INTERPOL cooperation

In January 2025, India launched the BHARATPOL portal, a centralised digital platform developed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). BHARATPOL connects Indian law enforcement agencies at the central, state and union territory levels with the CBI’s INTERPOL unit on a single digital platform, enabling streamlined, real-time submission of requests for INTERPOL notices and international assistance across 196 member countries. Through this single platform, Indian police force can now seamlessly submit requests for INTERPOL notices – including Red Notices – without the delays inherent in the previous system.

The CBI has also designated INTERPOL Contact Officers in every state and within all central investigating agencies. A Standing Focus Group was established under the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) of the Intelligence Bureau in January 2026, specifically tasked with prioritising fugitive cases, standardising dossiers, bridging information gaps and coordinating with foreign partners.

The Indian Government has also reportedly strengthened its cross-border investigative framework through the growing use of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs). These treaties facilitate cooperation between countries in criminal matters, including the prosecution of alleged fugitives, via mechanisms such as enhanced information sharing and cross-border investigations. This development will be examined in a future publication.

The practical impact: a sharp increase in extraditions and Red Notices

The numbers speak for themselves. Between 2004 and 2013, India secured the extradition of only four fugitives per year on average. By contrast, 274 fugitives were reportedly returned between 2019 and July 2026 from 36 different jurisdictions.

The issuance of INTERPOL Red Notices has also surged at a striking rate:

• 2022: 40 Red Notices issued;
• 2023: 100 Red Notices issued;
• 2024: 107 Red Notices issued;
• 2025: 112 Red Notices issued;
• 2026: 182 Red Notices issued (to date).

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs specifically stated that it is increasing its focus on the prevention of money laundering and the targeting of economic offenders who have fled the country. On the financial enforcement side, assets worth ₹17,874 crore (approximately £1.37 billion) have been attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Individual cases, such as Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya, have been the focus of sustained media attention, with the Indian Government actively attempting to publicise its focus on extraditing economic offenders. Between 2019 and 2026, the Government obtained the successful restitution of ₹18,762 crore (approximately £1.44 billion).

High-profile cases such as those of Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya have demonstrated that the Indian Government is prepared to pursue sustained, public extradition proceedings against alleged economic offenders. While neither individual has yet been physically returned to India as of August 2026, these cases illustrate the Government’s willingness to pursue protracted international proceedings against high-profile economic offenders.

Who should be concerned?

The press release and the Indian Government’s recent actions demonstrate that India’s extradition apparatus is no longer a slow-moving bureaucracy. It is now a well-resourced, technology-enabled system backed by explicit political will.

You should seek specialist legal advice immediately if:

• You are an Indian national residing in the UK or abroad and have outstanding legal matters in India, including unresolved financial disputes or regulatory investigations;
• You have conducted business in India and are concerned about potential liability under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act or the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act;
• You suspect that you may be subject to, or at risk of, an INTERPOL Red Notice or diffusion;
• You have received any communication suggesting Indian authorities are seeking your extradition or cooperation.

Early intervention is critical. Once an INTERPOL Red Notice is issued or extradition proceedings are initiated, the legal and practical consequences – including restrictions on international travel, asset freezing and detention – can be immediate and severe.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s International Protection, White Collar Crime and Litigation Teams advise individuals facing complex and multi-faceted cross-border investigations, which could involve INTERPOL, extradition, financial crime allegations and/or UK civil proceedings. Our lawyers regularly assist clients with:

• advising on INTERPOL Red Notices, Blue Notices and Diffusions;
• preparing strategies where extradition proceedings may arise;
• coordinating legal representation across multiple jurisdictions;
• advising where financial crime investigations overlap with INTERPOL measures;
• protecting clients’ rights throughout international criminal investigations;
• advising clients on civil fraud proceedings and dealing with freezing injunctions.

With more than 38 years of experience in complex international matters, Gherson advises individuals on cases involving multiple jurisdictions, competing legal processes and sensitive reputational issues. This experience underpins our experts’ coordinated legal strategies developed to account for each client’s individual circumstances.

Frequently asked questions

What has India changed in its approach to extradition?

India has made the extradition of fugitives a national priority and has strengthened its framework through legislative reforms, greater use of technology and closer cooperation with INTERPOL. Between 2019 and July 2026, 274 fugitives were reportedly brought back to India from 36 countries.

Can a person be tried in India while they are living abroad?

Yes. Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), implemented in 2024, Indian courts can conduct trials in absentia against proclaimed offenders. This means that the judicial process, including conviction and sentencing, may be completed without the individual being present in India.

What is BHARATPOL and how does it affect extradition cases?

BHARATPOL is a centralised digital platform, launched in January 2025, that connects Indian law enforcement agencies with the CBI’s INTERPOL unit. It enables agencies to submit requests for INTERPOL notices and international assistance through a single platform, helping to streamline cross-border cooperation.

Can India pursue individuals abroad for alleged financial or economic offences?

Yes. The Indian Government has specifically increased its focus on money laundering and economic offenders who have left the country. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act 2018 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act form important parts of this enforcement framework.

What should I do if I believe India may be seeking my extradition or an INTERPOL Red Notice?

We recommend seeking specialist legal advice immediately if you suspect that you may be subject to an INTERPOL Red Notice or diffusion, or if you have received communication suggesting that Indian authorities are seeking your extradition or cooperation. Early intervention can be critical, as extradition proceedings and INTERPOL measures may have immediate and serious consequences, including restrictions on international travel, asset freezing and detention.

If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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