There are 28 individuals who are accused in criminal cases being investigated by ED and who are either residing abroad or who have left the country before initiation of investigations by ED. Since these cases are at various stages of investigations by ED, it will not be in larger public interest to disclose names of such persons, amount involved and status of investigation as the same may adversely affect these investigations.

Necessary action has been initiated for bringing these persons back to India. In this regard, Red Corner Notice (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 07 persons and 03 persons accused under PMLA have been brought back to India.

There are adequate legal and administrative measures in place to tackle economic offenders who have either fled from the country or are likely to flee during the course of investigations. Whenever there is apprehension that the accused person may leave the country during the pendency of PMLA investigation, Look Out Circular (LoC) is issued by the Directorate of Enforcement. In case any of the accused person against whom LoC is issued tries to leave the country the Immigration Authority informs the Directorate and such person is apprehended. Further, some of the accused persons may already be residing abroad or may have left India before the commencement of the investigation under PMLA. In such cases action is taken by issuance of RCN and Extradition Request. Action under the newly enacted FEOA, 2018 is also initiated in suitable cases against economic offenders who have left India so as to avoid criminal prosecution or who, being abroad, refuse to return to India to face criminal prosecution and the total amount involved in the economic offence is more than ₹ 100 crore.

 This was stated by the Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharamanin a written reply to a Parliament Question in Rajya Sabha today.

Extradition and return mechanisms for economic offenders use lookout alerts, red notices, and fugitive-offender proceedings to secure repatriation. Extradition and return of accused economic offenders are effected through Look Out Circulars to prevent departure, Red Corner Notices and formal extradition requests for persons abroad, and initiation of proceedings under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act for those who abscond or refuse to return to face prosecution; these measures are used alongside limited public disclosure to protect ongoing investigations and coordination between administrative and legal authorities.