16 fugitives extradited back to India in last 4 years, 5 in 2018

In the last four years, 16 fugitive criminals have been extradited back to India with 2018 being the year in which New Delhi brought back 5 fugitives. Out of these 5 fugitives, 3 were Indian, one was Romanian, one British—Christian Michel James.

The details were shared by Minister of state for external affairs General V K Singh in Lok Sabha. 2015 was the year in which India brought back a maximum number of fugitives — 6 in number — in the last 4 years. This includes getting General Secretary of the banned United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), Anup Chetia from Bangladesh.

In 2016, India brought back 4 fugitives while only one in 2017 -Sultan Abubakr Kadir from Singapore for his involvement in Job scam racket.

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Overall, In the last four years, India received 43 extradition requests from foreign countries while New Delhi forwarded 132 extradition requests to foreign governments. India also signed Extradition Treaties with 4 countries --Afghanistan, Lithuania, Malawi and Morocco-- in last 4 years.

India has been pressing the United Kingdom on extradition of Nirav Modi. India in August of 2018 sent 2 extradition request to London-- one from CBI and the other from the Enforcement Directorate on Nirav Modi. According to the Ministry of external affairs, the "requests are presently under the consideration of the concerned UK authorities."

The investigator of National Central Bureau Manchester had found out the locations of Nirav Modi in the UK and conveyed the information to National Central Bureau India.

India has got positive news on extradition of Vijay Mallya with British court giving go-ahead to it, but it waits for a legal battle and a nod from Sajid Javid, Home Secretary of the United Kingdom.

India was able to get Christian Michael James, a British national and key middleman in the AgustaWestland back from United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 4th of December. Interestingly, Christian Michael wasn't the only foreign national India got back in the last 4 years. Out of 16 people brought back to India, 3 were foreign nationals—Christian Michael (British), Ionut Alexandru Marinoiu (Romanian) and Wily Naruenartwani ch (Thai).

A comprehensive, specialised central legislation- Extradition Act, 1962 exists which regulates the extradition of fugitive offenders as well as the implementation of Extradition Treaties entered into by India, with various foreign States. The Ministry of External Affairs is the nodal Ministry for extradition matters.