The Indian government has brought back 274 fugitives from 36 countries since 2019, stated the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday.

Among them, 62 criminals were wanted for murder, robbery or other violent crimes, and 53 for sexual offences, including those booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, the ministry added.

It stated that 17 of the fugitives were booked for terrorist or anti-national activities, and 16 for offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, which bans the production, possession, use and sale of illegal drugs.

Nine of the fugitives brought back were accused of financial crimes, said the home ministry.

While nine of the fugitives were brought back in 2019, only seven were repatriated in 2020. In 2021, the Indian government brought back 23 fugitives and the number increased to 40 in 2022.

Thirty-seven of the fugitives were repatriated in 2023, 43 in 2024, 70 in 2025 and 45 so far in 2026, said the ministry.

It added that in the last three years, Red Corner notices have been issued against 401 fugitives.

A Red Corner notice is a worldwide alert sent by Interpol to help find and temporarily hold a person who has run away to another country. It asks the police in 195 member countries to look for the fugitive.

Of the total, 115 of such notices were issued against persons accused of financial crimes and 90 for those against whom cases of murder, robbery or other violent crimes have been registered.

The home ministry said that 107 notices were issued in 2024, 112 in 2025 and 182 so far in 2026.

Written by Sneha. Edited by Sara Varghese.

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