India has adopted an intelligence-led, technology-driven, and mission-mode approach to tackle fugitive offenders, making their extradition a national priority.
- Fugitive Criminal: A person who is accused or convicted of an extradition offence within the jurisdiction of a foreign State and includes a person who, while in India, conspires, attempts to commit or incites or participates as an accomplice in the commission of an extradition offence in a foreign State.
- Between 2019 to 2026, India successfully brought back 274 fugitives from 36 countries.
India's Steps Towards Curbing Fugitives
- Legal Measures
- Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018: Enables confiscation of assets of economic fugitives.
- UAPA & NIA (Amendment) Acts, 2019: Expanded action against individual terrorists, handlers, foreign funding networks, and overseas support systems.
- BNSS, 2023: Sections 355 & 356 introduce trial in absentia for fugitives hiding abroad.
- Stronger PMLA Enforcement
Technology & Modern Operations
- BHARATPOL (2025): Integrates CBI, State Police, District Police and INTERPOL through a single platform for faster information sharing and reduces international response time to 3–10 days.
- Operation Trishul: Uses satellite inputs, surveillance, digital footprint analysis, and profile mapping to trace fugitives using false identities.
