India Locates 71 Fugitives Abroad: Highest in 12 Years
India located 71 fugitives abroad in 2024-25, the highest in 12 years.
Photo by Chromatograph
Key Facts
Fugitives located abroad (2024-25): 71
Extradition treaties: 48 countries
Extradition arrangements: 12 countries
Extradition requests sent: 137
UPSC Exam Angles
GS Paper II: Polity and Governance - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
GS Paper III: Economy - Issues related to money-laundering and its prevention.
Potential question types: Statement-based questions on extradition treaties, legal frameworks, and international cooperation.
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Background
The concept of extradition has ancient roots, with evidence of agreements between states for the return of fugitives dating back to ancient Egypt and Greece. Modern extradition treaties began to emerge in the 18th and 19th centuries, driven by increasing international travel and crime. The United States entered into its first extradition treaty with Great Britain in 1794.
In India, extradition laws were initially governed by the Extradition Act of 1903, enacted during British rule. Post-independence, this was replaced by the Extradition Act of 1962, which provides the legal framework for India's extradition requests and arrangements. Over the years, India has actively pursued extradition treaties with various countries to combat transnational crime and bring fugitives to justice.
These treaties outline the conditions, procedures, and offenses for which extradition can be granted, reflecting a growing global effort to enhance international cooperation in law enforcement.
Latest Developments
In recent years, India has intensified its efforts to bring back economic offenders and criminals who have fled the country. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, was enacted to confiscate the properties of individuals who have fled India to avoid criminal prosecution. India has also been actively engaging with international organizations like Interpol to issue Red Corner Notices against wanted individuals.
Despite these efforts, extradition remains a complex and time-consuming process, often hindered by legal challenges, differing legal systems, and political considerations in foreign countries. The future outlook involves strengthening international cooperation, enhancing legal frameworks, and addressing the challenges in the extradition process to ensure that fugitives are brought to justice effectively and efficiently. Furthermore, increased focus is being placed on mutual legal assistance treaties (MLATs) to gather evidence and facilitate investigations in foreign jurisdictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the key numbers related to fugitives and extradition to remember for the UPSC Prelims?
For the UPSC Prelims, remember these key numbers: India located 71 fugitives abroad in 2024-25. India has extradition treaties with 48 countries and extradition arrangements with 12 countries. Also, India sent 137 extradition requests over the last five years.
Exam Tip
Focus on memorizing the number of extradition treaties and fugitives located for potential matching-type questions.
2. What is extradition and why is it important in the context of international law and governance?
Extradition is the formal process by which one country returns a fugitive to another country for prosecution or punishment for crimes committed in the requesting country. It is important because it ensures that criminals cannot escape justice by fleeing to another country, thus strengthening international law enforcement and governance.
3. How does an 'extradition treaty' differ from an 'extradition arrangement'?
An extradition treaty is a formal, legally binding agreement between two or more countries that outlines the specific terms and conditions under which extradition will be granted. An extradition arrangement, on the other hand, is a less formal agreement, often based on mutual understanding and cooperation, and may not have the same legal force as a treaty.
4. What are the recent developments regarding India's efforts to bring back fugitives from abroad?
Recent developments include India locating 71 fugitives abroad in 2024-25, the highest in 12 years. The CBI processed over 22,200 applications for renunciation of Indian citizenship. India is actively using Interpol channels to geo-locate wanted criminals and sending judicial requests to foreign governments.
5. What is the role of Interpol in India's efforts to locate and extradite fugitives?
The CBI's Global Operations Centre uses Interpol channels to geo-locate wanted criminals. Interpol facilitates cooperation between law enforcement agencies of different countries, helping India track down fugitives and issue Red Corner Notices, which are international arrest warrants.
6. What is the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, and how does it aid in bringing back economic offenders?
The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, allows for the confiscation of properties of individuals who have fled India to avoid criminal prosecution for economic offenses. This act deters economic offenders and provides a legal framework to seize their assets, increasing the chances of their return and prosecution.
7. What are the potential challenges in extraditing fugitives from other countries?
Challenges include differing legal systems, human rights concerns, political considerations, and the need to provide sufficient evidence to meet the extradition requirements of the requested country. Some countries may not have extradition treaties or arrangements with India, making the process more complex.
8. In your opinion, what reforms are needed to improve India's extradition process?
Reforms could include strengthening diplomatic ties with countries where fugitives are frequently located, streamlining the legal processes for extradition requests, and increasing collaboration with international law enforcement agencies. Raising awareness about India's extradition laws and procedures among foreign governments could also be beneficial.
9. Why is the location of 71 fugitives abroad in 2024-25 considered significant?
The location of 71 fugitives abroad in 2024-25 is significant because it is the highest number in the last 12 years, indicating an increased effectiveness in India's efforts to track down and locate fugitives who have fled the country. This also reflects enhanced international cooperation.
10. What are the implications of a high number of Indian citizens renouncing their citizenship, as indicated by the CBI processing over 22,200 applications?
The high number of Indian citizens renouncing their citizenship could indicate various factors, including seeking better economic opportunities, concerns about the socio-political climate, or tax implications. While the topic data doesn't directly link this to fugitive recovery, it highlights a trend of outward migration that the government may need to address.
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding extradition treaties and arrangements: 1. Extradition treaties are legally binding agreements between countries for the return of fugitives. 2. Extradition arrangements are less formal agreements and may not be legally binding. 3. India has a higher number of extradition arrangements than extradition treaties. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: A
Extradition treaties are formal, legally binding agreements. Extradition arrangements are less formal and may not be legally binding. India has more extradition treaties than arrangements.
2. In the context of international law, what is the principle of 'double criminality' in extradition?
- A.The fugitive must be charged with at least two crimes in the requesting country.
- B.The crime for which extradition is sought must be punishable in both the requesting and the requested country.
- C.The fugitive must have committed the crime in two different countries.
- D.The extradition request must be approved by two international courts.
Show Answer
Answer: B
The principle of double criminality requires that the crime for which extradition is sought must be a crime in both the requesting and the requested country.
3. Which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018?
- A.It allows for the confiscation of properties of fugitive economic offenders.
- B.It applies only to individuals who have an arrest warrant issued for a scheduled offense involving ₹100 crore or more.
- C.It empowers the Enforcement Directorate to attach and confiscate properties.
- D.It provides a mechanism for the extradition of fugitive economic offenders.
Show Answer
Answer: D
The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, focuses on confiscation of properties and does not directly provide a mechanism for extradition, which is governed by separate extradition treaties and laws.
4. Assertion (A): Extradition treaties are crucial for combating transnational crime. Reason (R): They provide a legal framework for the return of individuals accused or convicted of crimes in another country. In the context of the above statements, which of the following is correct?
- A.Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- B.Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
- C.A is true, but R is false.
- D.A is false, but R is true.
Show Answer
Answer: A
Extradition treaties are indeed crucial for combating transnational crime, and the reason provided correctly explains why they are important - they provide the legal framework for the return of fugitives.