India has significantly increased the number of Interpol Red Notices issued against fugitive criminals, with figures doubling since 2023. This sharp rise highlights India’s growing assertiveness and adoption of modern tools to track and bring back offenders hiding abroad.
A Red Notice is a global alert issued by Interpol seeking the location and provisional arrest of a wanted person, often preceding extradition. In India, both state and central agencies route such requests through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which coordinates with Interpol for the issuance and follow-up process.
CBI Director Praveen Sood emphasized that technology and diplomacy are now central to India’s strategy. The newly launched “BharatPol” digital portal has streamlined the Red Notice request system, reducing the average processing time from six months to just three. With the integration of AI and data analytics, profiling and tracking of fugitives has become faster and more accurate.
India’s proactive diplomatic approach has also played a critical role. Hosting the 2022 Interpol General Assembly and highlighting the issue of fugitive safe havens during the 2023 G-20 Summit enhanced India’s global influence and Interpol engagement.
In addition to Red Notices, India also utilizes:
- Blue Notices to track individuals and gather location details
- Yellow Notices in cases of kidnappings, disappearances, or unknown identities
India’s efforts mark a shift toward a more technologically advanced and internationally coordinated crime control mechanism.
