‘Rs 17,874 crore assets of fugitive criminals attached between 2019-2026’
New Delhi, Oct 03: The Modi government has succeeded in bringing back a total of 288 fugitives from 36 countries between 2019 and August 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday, describing it as part of a coordinated campaign to make the extradition of fugitives a “national priority.”
In a post on X, Shah congratulated all agencies for achieving a historic milestone by securing the deportation of hardened narco-trafficking kingpin Navpreet Singh from Türkiye.
“Modi govt has achieved a historic milestone by securing the deportation of hardened narco-trafficking kingpin Navpreet Singh from Türkiye. Obtaining Turkish citizenship under the fake identity of Navab Virk, he had continued to smuggle heroin and methamphetamine to India from Afghanistan. Our agencies tracked him down, ripping apart veil after veil to unmask his true identity, and secured his deportation. Today he has been brought back to India and put behind bars in connection with cases involving drug trafficking and other crimes he is accused of,” Shah said.
“Congratulations to all the agencies for this success. Modi govt is committed to destroying every narco-cartel before Dec 2029,” he added.
The government said previous governments lacked the political will to bring back fugitives, while the Modi government has made extradition a national priority. In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, Shah has emphasised a three-pronged strategy against fugitives: global outreach, strong coordination, and smart diplomacy.
Shah has described the issue of fugitive offenders as one intrinsically linked to the country’s sovereignty, economic stability, law and order, and national security.
The Modi Government enacted the NIA (Amendment) Act and the UAPA (Amendment) Act in 2019, and from 2020 onwards, the process of bringing fugitive offenders back to India was taken up in a mission mode.
As a result, enforcement efforts were no longer confined to proscribed organisations alone. The scope of action was expanded to include individual terrorists, handlers, funding networks and support systems based abroad, significantly strengthening India’s ability to pursue fugitives and dismantle their networks.
To strengthen coordination, connectivity and information-sharing between India and global law enforcement agencies, Shah launched BHARATPOL in January 2025.
BHARATPOL has created a comprehensive information infrastructure by integrating the CBI, State Police Headquarters (through Interpol Liaison Officers) and District Police Headquarters onto a single platform. Under this initiative, more than 1,400 units of State and Central agencies have been connected through the portal, ensuring seamless flow of information.
As a result, the response time for information-sharing between the CBI and other law enforcement agencies has been significantly reduced. Today, information sought by the CBI is generally shared by other law enforcement agencies within 10 to 20 days, and in some cases, within 3 to 10 days, substantially improving the efficiency of investigations and extradition proceedings.
The Modi Government has enforced the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) with greater rigour. Through stringent enforcement, the government attached assets worth Rs 17,874 crore belonging to fugitive criminals between 2019 and 2026.
Over the past three years, Red Corner Notices have been issued against 401 fugitive criminals. A total of 182 Red Corner Notices have been issued till July 2026.
