Question : Extradition of Criminals

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :

(a) whether the Government faces difficulty in bringing back those people who have fled after committing crime in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether no law has been enacted in the country for extradition of such people and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has made any efforts for extradition of fugitive criminals of the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof including the details of successful extradition cases in 2016, country-wise;

(e) if not, the reasons therefor; and

(f) whether the Government is likely to enact a law in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR.) V. K. SINGH (RETD.)]

(a) to (c) The Government of India has been making every effort to bring back fugitive criminals who have fled after committing crime in the country. The Government of India enacted the Extradition Act, 1962 which deals with the law and the matters relating to the extradition of fugitive criminals. Furthermore, India has signed extradition treaties with forty seven (47) countries and entered into extradition arrangements with nine (9) more countries to facilitate extradition. It is the policy of the Government of India to conclude Extradition treaties with as many countries as possible so as to ensure that fugitive criminals do not escape justice. In the last fifteen years, India successfully brought back sixty two (62) fugitive criminals from various foreign countries.

(d) & (e) In 2016, a total of four (4) criminal fugitives namely Abdul Wahid Siddibapa (UAE), Kumar Krishna Pillai (Singapore), Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel (UK) and Abdul Rauf Merchant (Bangladesh) were successfully extradited/deported to India.

(f) As per information received from Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, they have prepared a Draft Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2017 which provided for confiscation of assets of fugitive economic offenders.