NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has significantly improved the processing time for Interpol Red Notices, with requests that earlier took an average of 14 months now being completed within three months, said CBI Director Praveen Sood on Thursday.
Speaking at the inaugural session of a conference on “Extradition of Fugitives: Challenges and Strategies”, organised by the CBI and inaugurated by Home Minister Amit Shah, Sood highlighted the agency’s recent successes in securing Interpol notices against fugitives abroad. He noted that only eight proposals for issuing Red Notices are currently pending, with the oldest case being just a month old.
Sood acknowledged that while India has made substantial progress in this area, there is still scope for improvement to match the efficiency levels of other countries in handling international extradition requests. He emphasised the need for enhanced coordination and streamlined procedures to ensure that fugitives are swiftly brought to justice.
The conference, attended by senior law enforcement officials, focused on strategies to strengthen India’s capability in tracking and extraditing fugitives, addressing challenges in international cooperation, and improving legal and procedural frameworks for cross-border enforcement.
The reduction in processing time for Interpol Red Notices is expected to expedite the detention and extradition of fugitives, reinforcing India’s efforts to combat transnational crime and ensure accountability for white-collar and serious offences committed by citizens abroad.
Sood also stressed that maintaining a robust mechanism for international liaison is critical for India’s law enforcement agencies to tackle crime effectively in an increasingly globalised environment.
