New Delhi: Over USD 1.8 billion worth of assets have been recovered from economic offenders and fugitives in the last four years, after the government brought in the Economic Offenders Act, according to Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.

Since 2014, assets worth more than 12 billion US Dollars have been attached with the help of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), he added.

Singh was addressing the inauguration of the first-ever "International Day of Police Cooperation" after conferring Indian Police Medals to distinguished CBI officers at an Investiture Ceremony at CBI Headquarters in New Delhi.

The Minister said there has been a quantum jump in the extradition of criminals and fugitives in recent years especially after India hosted the 90th Interpol General Assembly in October 2022.

While this year so far 19 criminals/fugitives have returned to India, in the previous years, on average around 10 criminals/fugitives have returned to India with 27 returning in 2022 and 18 in 2021.

Dr Jitendra Singh underlined that the marked increase in the return of criminals and fugitives to India is the result of enhanced cooperation policing between India and other countries pursuant to the 90th Interpol General Assembly held in October 2022 in Delhi, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking about the enactment of the Economic Offenders Act in 2018, Dr Jitendra Singh said the Modi government is aggressively pursuing economic offenders and informed about the recovery and attachment of huge assets from economic offenders fugitives, and money launderers.

The Ministry of Personnel has already deliberated the Anti-Corruption Working Group Meets in Gurugram, Rishikesh, and Kolkata coinciding with the G20 Summit happening tomorrow.

There is forward movement in areas like action-oriented High-Level Principles on three priority areas, namely, law enforcement cooperation through information sharing, strengthening asset recovery mechanisms, and enhancing the integrity and effectiveness of anti-corruption authorities, he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh recalled that Prime Minister Modi had presented a nine-point agenda for action against Fugitive Economic Offenders and Asset Recovery at the G-20 Summit in 2018 and expressed happiness that decisive steps are being taken by the working group.

The year 2023 is the Diamond Jubilee Year of CBI and in its 60 years of existence, CBI has emerged as India’s premier investigation and anti-corruption agency and internally evolved as a capable organisation.

Later, Dr Jitendra Singh gave away police medals to CBI officers and congratulated the awardees and their family members. He also wished all the best to the CBI and its officers.