RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.659
TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.06.2019

EXTRADITION OF INDIANS INVOLVED IN FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES

659. SHRI KANAKAMEDALA RAVINDRA KUMAR:

SHRI M.P. VEERENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the number of people living abroad who have been involved in financial irregularities with the banks as well as of those who are under criminal investigation; and

(b) the details of the steps being taken for the extradition of these persons?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) Ministry of External Affairs, not being the original repository of information requested in (a) and (b), the same has been obtained from the primary investigating agencies namely the CBI, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

According to the information provided by the CBI, the number of Indians living abroad who are involved in financial irregularities with the Banks and fled the country and undergoing criminal investigation in CBI cases during the last three years is 24.

According to the Directorate of Enforcement there are 28 individuals who are accused in criminal cases being investigated by Enforcement Directorate (ED) and who are either residing abroad or have left the country before initiation of investigation by ED.

According to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), one Indian living abroad, viz., Nirav Modi, is under criminal investigation by DRI.

(b) Efforts are being made for securing presence of these accused in the country.

According to the CBI, efforts are being made for securing presence of these accused in the country by way of issuance of extradition requests. During the last three years, extradition requests in respect of 05 accused persons have been issued, who were involved in financial irregularities with the Banks in CBI cases registered since 1.01.2016 till 31.05.2019.

According to the ED, necessary action has been initiated for bringing these persons back to India in this regard. Red Corner Notices (RCN) have been issued against 25 persons, extradition requests have been issued for 14 persons, action under Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA) have been initiated against 7 persons and 3 persons accused under PMLA have been brought back to India.
According to the DRI, as per procedure, application for Nirav Modi’s extradition has been forwarded to the Ahmedabad Customs Commissioner for filing the same in the Court at Surat.

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