In a major step to streamline and strengthen India’s global pursuit of fugitives, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has established a new extradition cell aimed at scrutinizing and refining all proposals for repatriation sent by states, Union territories, and other law enforcement agencies. The move comes alongside the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) plan to instruct all states and Union territories to form dedicated extradition units and identify specific jails for fugitives awaiting deportation or extradition trials. The coordinated framework between the CBI, MHA, and Interpol seeks to make India’s extradition process more efficient, evidence-based, and globally compliant.
CBI’s Extradition Cell to Strengthen Coordination and Documentation
According to senior officials familiar with the development, the CBI issued an internal order on October 22 announcing the creation of the new extradition cell, which will function under the supervision of a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank officer. This specialized unit will be responsible for reviewing, analyzing, and strengthening all extradition proposals received from across the country before forwarding them to foreign governments.
The move follows recommendations made during a two-day conference organized by the CBI on October 16–17, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized the need for a systematic mechanism to address challenges in extradition procedures. Shah had underscored the importance of improving the quality of extradition requests, establishing coordination mechanisms between state police forces, CBI, and Interpol, and developing specialized detention facilities for fugitives under trial or awaiting extradition.
The newly created cell will serve as a centralized platform for assessing each extradition case with a focus on evidence quality, legal compliance, and procedural accuracy. A senior official involved in the process explained that the cell’s mandate includes vetting case files to ensure they meet the standards of international courts. The official highlighted that foreign courts, particularly in countries like the United Kingdom and Canada, often demand detailed evidence of prison conditions, video documentation of facilities, and legal assurances that comply with human rights standards before approving extradition requests.
To meet these stringent international standards, the CBI’s extradition cell will work closely with multiple stakeholders. The unit will assist in drafting assurance letters, preparing exhaustive dossiers, and verifying whether the targeted nation shares an active extradition treaty with India. Additionally, it will maintain a comprehensive database of fugitives, monitor ongoing cases, and track the status of Interpol Red Notices issued against Indian fugitives worldwide.
The cell’s establishment also aligns with India’s recent diplomatic engagements aimed at expediting extraditions and mutual legal assistance. As of October 2025, India has 388 extradition requests pending across various countries and 957 Interpol Red Notices in effect for fugitives accused of financial crimes, terrorism, and other serious offenses. In the current year alone, the CBI has successfully facilitated the return of at least 36 fugitives to India, including key figures such as 26/11 Mumbai terror accused Tahawwur Rana and economic offender Monika Kapoor.
Officials described the extradition cell as a crucial development that will ensure better coordination between central and state authorities. “This cell will not only strengthen communication between investigating agencies but will also create a unified platform for information sharing, thereby minimizing delays and improving the success rate of extradition requests,” one official said.
The decision to set up this cell represents a larger policy shift within India’s investigative and diplomatic ecosystem, reflecting an intent to adopt a more structured, accountable, and results-oriented approach in dealing with cross-border fugitives.
MHA to Direct States to Create Dedicated Extradition Units and Jails
Parallel to the CBI’s initiative, the Ministry of Home Affairs is finalizing an order to direct all states and Union territories to establish dedicated extradition units headed by senior police officials. The MHA’s plan aims to standardize the process at the grassroots level, ensuring that every state has the capability to handle cases of fugitives involved in crimes with international dimensions.
According to officials, the MHA will soon issue detailed directives outlining the operational framework for these state-level units. The order will also ask states to earmark special jails or enclosures exclusively for fugitives either under extradition proceedings or awaiting deportation. These facilities are expected to adhere to international human rights standards, with provisions for surveillance, documentation, and transparency to satisfy foreign judicial requirements.
The blueprint for this initiative was extensively discussed during the recent CBI conference, which brought together officials from the CBI, MHA, Interpol, and senior law enforcement representatives from across states and Union territories. One of the key recommendations that emerged was the need for consistency and speed in responding to queries from foreign authorities handling extradition cases.
A senior official who participated in the conference mentioned that a session was conducted by a representative from the United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which provided crucial insights into the expectations of London courts in high-profile extradition matters. The CPS official reportedly outlined the procedural requirements for Indian authorities, including timely responses to judicial questions, comprehensive documentation, and the elimination of procedural lapses that have previously delayed or jeopardized India’s cases in the UK.
The session was particularly significant in light of several ongoing cases involving prominent Indian fugitives such as Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, and Sanjay Bhandari, who are currently facing extradition proceedings in British courts. The CPS official also discussed common pitfalls observed in India’s earlier submissions, such as incomplete evidence, outdated or inconsistent documentation, and lack of follow-up communication. These observations have been incorporated into the recommendations shared with the MHA and state agencies to enhance future submissions.
The second official cited in the report said that these actionable points have already been submitted to the MHA, and the ministry will soon issue comprehensive guidelines that mirror the recommendations made during the conference. “The goal is to build a synchronized network of central and state-level extradition units that can coordinate seamlessly with the CBI and Interpol,” the official explained.
This proposed ecosystem is expected to revolutionize the way India handles international fugitive cases, ensuring that every stage—from evidence collection to legal documentation and diplomatic coordination—is handled with precision and accountability. The integration of state-level units with the CBI’s central extradition cell will also help reduce bureaucratic lag, allowing faster movement of files and improved diplomatic engagement with foreign governments.
The CBI’s data underscores the urgency of such reforms. India’s pending extradition cases include several high-profile fugitives accused of major financial crimes, terrorism, and organized corruption. Many of these cases have faced delays due to procedural shortcomings or lack of timely follow-up. The creation of a centralized cell within the CBI, supported by state-level units, is expected to mitigate such delays and bring uniformity in how cases are prepared and presented to foreign authorities.
Meanwhile, discussions are also underway with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on revoking passports of fugitives once Interpol Red Notices are issued against them. Officials said this step, once implemented, would add another layer of pressure on fugitives to return and face trial in India.
The creation of the CBI’s extradition cell and the MHA’s proposed directives represent a coordinated national effort to modernize India’s approach to cross-border crime and ensure that fugitives can no longer exploit procedural loopholes to evade justice. By focusing on documentation quality, legal compliance, and international cooperation, these reforms aim to make India’s extradition process more credible and effective in the eyes of global judicial authorities.
