The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved extradition treaties with Kenya, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic. The move will create a legal framework for India to cooperate with these countries in criminal matters. It will also help India seek the return of fugitives facing cases related to terrorism, drug trafficking, economic offences and other serious crimes.

The Cabinet also granted ex-post facto approval for the extradition treaty with Seychelles. India and Seychelles signed the treaty during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country in June. The latest decisions will strengthen India’s legal cooperation with the four countries and make it easier to pursue fugitives who leave the country to avoid legal action.

“The Union Cabinet has approved signing and ratification of extradition treaties with Kenya, Kazakhstan and the Republic of Kyrgyzstan to cooperate in criminal matters. An ex post facto approval for signing of the treaty with Seychelles, cleared in June, was also given on Tuesday. It is one step further to strengthen our legal requirements for cooperation in many aspects with different countries,” said a senior government officer, who asked not to be named.

Before the latest decision, India had extradition treaties with 48 countries. It also had extradition arrangements with 12 countries. The addition of Kenya, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Seychelles will take the total number of countries with extradition treaties with India to 52.

The move comes as India continues to pursue several fugitives who are living abroad. According to a Parliament reply by the Ministry of External Affairs in December last year, India had sent 137 extradition requests to foreign countries. Foreign governments accepted 134 of these requests, while 125 remained pending with them.

Several high-profile cases are part of India's extradition efforts. These include requests linked to businessmen Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya and Mehul Choksi. India has also sought the return of Mahadev Online app founders Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal.

The Ministry of External Affairs told Parliament that India successfully extradited 25 fugitives over the last five years. The extradition of a fugitive sought by India requires a court order. The government of the country where the fugitive is staying must then take a decision on the request.

India has also brought back a much larger number of fugitives through deportation. Between 2019 and 2026, authorities brought 274 fugitives back to India from 36 countries. Most of these cases involved deportation, which is a more informal process that depends on cooperation between two countries.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said earlier this month that the 274 fugitives included people wanted in several serious cases. Seventeen were wanted in terrorism and narco-terrorism cases. Another 42 faced cases related to organised crime, gang activities and extortion. Fifty-three fugitives faced charges linked to sexual offences, including cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, or POCSO.

Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the government's efforts to bring fugitives back to India. “Under the vision of a robust and secure India, the Modi govt has pulled in the net, nabbing fugitives hiding abroad. Regardless of which country they absconded to, India’s new approach to national security has ensured the return of 274 criminals since 2019, compared with a mere four per year during the UPA regime,” home minister Amit Shah said on August 4.

The Central Bureau of Investigation serves as India's nodal agency for extradition requests sent from the country. The CBI has already created an “extradition cell” to examine proposals received from states, Union territories and other agencies. The cell aims to assess these requests and prepare stronger legal submissions.

The CBI has said the cell will help ensure that India sends “powerful, foolproof extradition requests” to foreign governments. The latest extradition treaties are expected to further strengthen this system by expanding India's legal cooperation with more countries.

The Cabinet's decision therefore adds another layer to India's efforts to track down fugitives abroad and bring them back to face legal proceedings. With the agreements with Kenya, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Seychelles, India will have a wider network of formal extradition arrangements. The government can use these mechanisms to strengthen cooperation against transnational crime and pursue fugitives across international borders.