New Delhi, Oct. 16 — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday called for the creation of special prisons for fugitives in every state, built to international standards, and suggested cancelling the passports of those facing Interpol Red Notices to restrict their global movement and aid extradition efforts.
Speaking at a CBI conference on ‘Extradition of Fugitives — Challenges and Strategies’, Shah said India must instil “fear of the Indian legal system” among fugitives accused of harming the nation’s economy, sovereignty, and security. “Till the time we create fear for the Indian legal system in the minds of fugitives who are hurting the Indian economy, our sovereignty, and our security from abroad, we cannot ensure the security of the country,” he said.
Several high-profile fugitives — including Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi — have cited poor conditions in Indian jails to resist extradition in foreign courts. Shah said building internationally compliant facilities would blunt such arguments. “Every state capital should have a cell which conforms to international standards in its entirety,” he told top police officials.
India currently has 338 extradition requests pending with different countries for suspects wanted in cases related to financial crimes, terrorism, and narcotics smuggling. Shah said technology could easily enable the automatic cancellation of a fugitive’s passport when a Red Notice is issued. “When a Red Notice is issued, the passport should be cancelled to block the fugitive’s international travel,” he said.
The Home Minister proposed several new mechanisms to strengthen India’s extradition process. These include:
- A scientific database of fugitives, listing their crimes, current location, networks, and repatriation status.
- A coordination group in each state for narcotics, terror, financial, and cyber crimes, supported by the CBI and Intelligence Bureau.
- Dedicated extradition cells in every state police force to study treaties and expedite cases under international and domestic law.
Shah urged the CBI to create a central unit to guide state-level cells and coordinate international efforts. He also called on state police chiefs to make better use of the new “trial in absentia” provision under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which allows courts to try fugitives even if they remain abroad. Convicted fugitives would have to appear in person to file an appeal.
Highlighting gaps in the current system, Shah said that many states fail to upgrade Interpol Blue Notices — which help locate fugitives — to Red Notices, which enable detention after chargesheets are filed. He urged states to establish dedicated cells to handle this process, while directing the CBI and IB to set up special units under the multi-agency centre for better coordination.
“The need of the hour,” Shah said, “is synergy between passport-issuing authorities and law enforcement agencies to ensure that fugitives have no escape route.”
