Officials announced that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully facilitated the return of 134 fugitives from abroad over the past five years (2020–2025), nearly doubling the 74 repatriated during the entire decade from 2010 to 2019. This milestone, highlighted by sources like The Hindu and The Economic Times, reflects enhanced diplomatic efforts, technological advancements, and robust coordination with Interpol and state agencies. With 23 fugitives brought back in 2025 alone, including high-profile cases like Monika Kapoor and Nehal Modi, the CBI’s efforts underscore India’s commitment to combating transnational crime. This article explores the CBI’s strategies, key successes, and the broader implications for India’s global law enforcement presence.
Background: A Surge in Repatriation Success
The CBI, as India’s designated National Central Bureau for Interpol, has significantly ramped up its efforts to track and repatriate fugitives since 2020. The 134 repatriations over the past five years mark a stark contrast to the 74 achieved between 2010 and 2019, driven by several factors:
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Enhanced Diplomatic Engagements: High-level VVIP visits and bilateral ties, supported by the Ministry of External Affairs, have strengthened cooperation with foreign governments. India’s extradition treaties with 48 countries and arrangements with 12 others have facilitated smoother legal processes.
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Technological Advancements: The launch of the Bharatpol digital portal in January 2025 has halved the time required to issue Interpol Red Notices, from six months to three, by streamlining documentation and coordination between Indian police agencies and Interpol.
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Global Operations Centre: Established to enhance international coordination, this centre engages foreign law enforcement agencies, expediting extradition and deportation processes.
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Reciprocal Cooperation: India’s assistance in returning fugitives wanted by foreign governments, such as Lithuanian national Aleksej Besciokov in March 2025, has bolstered mutual trust.
The process of extradition involves three stages: issuance of an Interpol Red Notice, geolocation of the fugitive, and legal and diplomatic maneuvers for repatriation—all time-intensive but increasingly efficient due to these advancements.
Key Success Stories
The CBI’s recent repatriations include high-profile cases that highlight its global reach:
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Monika Kapoor (July 9, 2025): An economic offender who fled to the US in 1999 was extradited after a lengthy legal battle, marking a significant victory for the CBI’s International Police Cooperation Unit (IPCU).
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Nehal Modi (2025): The brother of Nirav Modi, implicated in the ₹13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, was arrested in the US upon his release from Franklin Correctional Institute on July 4, 2025, following proactive CBI coordination with US authorities. Nehal faces extradition proceedings starting July 17, 2025.
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Aleksej Besciokov (March 2025): A Lithuanian national wanted by the US for laundering millions through his “Grantax” platform was arrested in Kerala in a joint operation with Kerala Police, demonstrating effective state-CBI collaboration.
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Suhail Basheer and Tofik Najir Khan (April 2, 2025): Wanted for rape and forgery in Kerala and Gujarat, respectively, these fugitives were returned from the UAE via Interpol channels, with Red Notices issued in December 2024 and February 2025.
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Aaditya Jain (April 4, 2025): Wanted by Rajasthan Police for extortion, Jain was repatriated from the UAE, showcasing the CBI’s ability to act swiftly on Interpol Red Notices.
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Taher Salim Dola (June 2025): A key accused in a ₹252-crore drug case was deported from the UAE after his arrest, facilitated by an Interpol notice and CBI’s coordination with Mumbai Police.
These cases, reported by sources like India Today and Hindustan Times, illustrate the CBI’s focus on economic offenders, cybercriminals, and other serious criminals.
Strategies Driving Success
The CBI’s increased repatriation rate stems from strategic initiatives:
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Bharatpol Portal: Launched in January 2025, this in-house platform connects Indian police agencies with Interpol, reducing documentation errors and cutting Red Notice issuance time from six months to three. An officer noted, “The portal has ensured improved documentation, curtailing to-and-fro communication between CBI and other agencies.”
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Global Operations Centre: This centre enhances coordination with foreign law enforcement, enabling rapid geolocation and arrest of fugitives, as seen in Nehal Modi’s case.
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Diplomatic Push: The Ministry of External Affairs, through ambassadors and high commissioners, plays a crucial role in negotiating extradition agreements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal at the 2022 Interpol General Assembly and G20 Summit to eliminate safe havens for criminals has galvanized international cooperation.
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Reciprocal Efforts: India’s assistance in repatriating foreign fugitives, like Besciokov, has strengthened bilateral trust, facilitating India’s own extradition requests.
The CBI’s IPCU, recognized with a President’s Police Medal for its joint director Vijayendra Bidari on August 14, 2024, has been instrumental, coordinating 24 returns in 2023, 27 in 2022, and 18 in 2021.
Public and Political Reactions
The CBI’s achievements have garnered widespread attention. X posts on July 17, 2025, reflected public sentiment, with @the_hindu stating, “The #CBI has succeeded in facilitating the return of 134 fugitives from abroad in the last five years,” and @InstaBharat noting, “CBI facilitated return of 134 fugitives from abroad in past 5 years: Officials.” Users like @thenewsdrum emphasized high-profile cases like Nehal Modi, amplifying public awareness.
Politically, the Modi government’s focus on combating economic offenders and terrorists, as articulated by Home Minister Amit Shah’s advocacy for a permanent Interpol mechanism, has bolstered the CBI’s efforts. However, opposition voices, as seen in recent Congress critiques on national security, may demand greater transparency on pending cases like Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, who remain in custody in the UK and Antigua, respectively.
Implications for India’s Global Law Enforcement Role
The CBI’s success has far-reaching implications:
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Strengthened Global Presence: With 23 repatriations in 2025 alone, India’s enhanced coordination with Interpol and 60 countries with extradition agreements positions it as a key player in global law enforcement.
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Economic Impact: Repatriating economic offenders like Monika Kapoor and pursuing Nirav Modi addresses financial frauds, such as the ₹13,000 crore PNB scam, potentially recovering significant assets.
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Cybercrime Crackdown: The CBI’s focus on cybercriminals targeting the US, Germany, and Japan aligns with India’s push for cybersecurity, enhancing its reputation as a responsible global partner.
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Reciprocal Cooperation: India’s assistance in deporting foreign fugitives, like Besciokov, strengthens bilateral ties, facilitating future extraditions.
Challenges remain, including legal constraints in certain jurisdictions and delays in high-profile cases like Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. The CBI has geolocated 184 additional fugitives as of 2023, with formal proceedings ongoing, indicating a robust pipeline but persistent hurdles.
Path Forward
To sustain and enhance its success, the CBI and the government should:
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Expand Bharatpol Capabilities: Integrate AI-driven analytics to further reduce Red Notice issuance times and improve geolocation accuracy.
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Strengthen Extradition Treaties: Negotiate with jurisdictions lacking agreements to minimize safe havens, as urged by PM Modi at the G20 Summit.
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Enhance Public Awareness: Use platforms like X to communicate successes and counter misinformation, maintaining public trust.
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Accelerate High-Profile Cases: Prioritize legal efforts to repatriate figures like Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi to signal zero tolerance for economic offenders.
The CBI’s facilitation of 134 fugitive repatriations from 2020 to 2025, including 23 in 2025 alone, marks a new era in India’s fight against transnational crime. Through technological innovations like the Bharatpol portal, enhanced diplomatic engagements, and the Global Operations Centre, the CBI has nearly doubled its repatriation rate compared to the 2010–2019 decade. High-profile successes like Monika Kapoor and Nehal Modi, reported on July 17, 2025, underscore India’s commitment to denying safe havens for criminals, as articulated by PM Modi and Home Minister Shah. As the CBI continues to pursue 184 geolocated fugitives, sustained coordination with Interpol and foreign agencies will be crucial to maintaining this momentum, reinforcing India’s role as a global leader in law enforcement.
