New Delhi, Oct 18: CBI Director Praveen Sood on Friday emphasised the need for greater coordination and seamless data-sharing among India’s law enforcement agencies to strengthen efforts to extradite fugitives from abroad.
Sood was addressing state police chiefs and senior central agency officers during a two-day conference on ‘Extradition of Fugitives – Challenges and Strategies’ organised by the CBI. He stressed that sharing databases and working in synergy would make efforts against wanted criminals more effective, the agency’s spokesperson said.
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, chairing the valedictory session, said the conference’s deliberations would guide future strategies. He highlighted the need for robust documentation to ensure India’s requests for assistance withstand international legal scrutiny, and outlined initiatives by the Home Department to bring fugitives back.
NIA Director General Sadanand Date noted that provisions in new criminal laws, including Trial in Absentia, could be used against absconding offenders.
The conference, inaugurated by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, saw participation from over 200 officers of 45 State and Central law enforcement agencies, including MHA, MEA, ED, NCB, FIU, NIA, NTRO, DRI, CBDT, Mumbai Police, INTERPOL, and CBI.
A total of 25 officers made presentations on issues related to extradition, including the use of technology, strategic approaches, tracking financial trails, and leveraging the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act against global assets of fugitives. Discussions also focused on narco, terror, cybercrime, organised crime, and financial offenders, along with tracing illicit funds through state-of-the-art platforms and the Interpol Silver Notice.
The spokesperson said the conference highlighted the need for a coordinated, technology-driven, and legally robust approach to ensure that fugitives are successfully brought back to India. (Agencies)
