India Successfully Secures Extradition of Fugitive Jagdish Punetha from UAE through INTERPOL Cooperation

India has successfully secured the return of over 150 wanted criminals in recent years.

New Delhi:

In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), working collaboratively with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has accomplished the extradition of wanted fugitive Jagdish Punetha from the United Arab Emirates on November 13.

Punetha was subject to an INTERPOL Red Notice issued on May 6 at the request of the Uttarakhand Police. He was wanted in connection with an FIR registered at the Pithoragarh Police Station on charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy. The accused had fled to the UAE to escape arrest by Indian authorities.

Following the issuance of the Red Notice, the CBI coordinated effectively with UAE authorities to locate and detain the accused. Subsequently, a team from the Uttarakhand Police traveled to the UAE and escorted him back to India, arriving in New Delhi with the fugitive on November 13.

The CBI, which serves as India's National Central Bureau (NCB) for INTERPOL, utilizes the BHARATPOL platform to facilitate coordination between domestic law enforcement agencies for international assistance. INTERPOL Red Notices are distributed worldwide to assist member countries in identifying and apprehending wanted individuals.

Significantly, India has achieved the repatriation of more than 150 wanted criminals in recent years through effective coordination via INTERPOL channels, representing a substantial enhancement in transnational crime investigation capabilities.