In a major breakthrough for Indian law enforcement, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully secured the extradition of Monika Kapoor, a key accused in a high-profile import-export fraud case from the early 2000s. Kapoor had been absconding for over 23 years and was declared a Proclaimed Offender in 2006. The extradition was completed on July 9, 2025, with CBI officials personally escorting her from the United States to India.
This marks a significant step in India’s ongoing effort to bring back economic offenders hiding abroad and hold them accountable under the Indian judicial system.
Monika Kapoor is a Delhi-based businesswoman and the former proprietor of Monika Overseas, a firm once engaged in the import and export business. She became the prime accused in a massive gold import fraud case, dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Along with her two brothers, Rajan Khanna and Rajeev Khanna, Monika Kapoor allegedly created forged export documents to illegally obtain Replenishment Licenses used to import duty-free gold.
According to CBI investigations, the Kapoor siblings were involved in an elaborate scheme involving:
Fake export invoices
Falsified shipping bills
Forged bank certificates
Using these fraudulent documents, they obtained six Replenishment Licenses in 1998 from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). These licenses allowed them to import duty-free gold worth ₹2.36 crore.
Instead of utilizing the licenses for legitimate business, they were sold at a premium to an Ahmedabad-based company named Deep Exports. Deep Exports used the licenses to import gold, thereby evading customs duties and causing a loss of ₹1.44 crore to the Indian government.
After years of investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet on March 31, 2004, under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including:
120-B (Criminal Conspiracy)
420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property)
467 (Forgery of valuable security)
468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating)
471 (Using as genuine a forged document)
While Rajan and Rajeev Khanna were convicted by Delhi’s Saket Court on December 20, 2017, Monika Kapoor remained absconding throughout the investigation and trial.
Given her refusal to cooperate with legal proceedings and her disappearance from the country, Monika Kapoor was declared a Proclaimed Offender by the court on February 13, 2006.
In 2010, a Red Corner Notice (RCN) was issued against her via Interpol, marking her as a wanted international fugitive. This step was crucial in tracking her movements abroad and initiating formal extradition procedures.
In 2010, the CBI formally requested the extradition of Monika Kapoor from the United States, where she had taken refuge. The extradition process involved:
Complex legal proceedings in US courts
Inter-agency coordination between the CBI and US Department of Justice
Sustained diplomatic efforts via the Ministry of External Affairs
After 15 years of continuous follow-up, the U.S. authorities approved the extradition. A team of CBI officials traveled to the U.S., took custody of Kapoor, and returned with her to India on July 9, 2025.
Now that Monika Kapoor has been brought back to India, she will be produced before the competent Indian court, where she will face trial for her role in the import-export fraud. The case, though old, still holds legal validity under Indian law and will proceed as per due process.
The CBI has confirmed that Kapoor’s arrest and extradition send a strong message to other fugitives attempting to evade justice by fleeing the country.
The Monika Kapoor extradition case highlights several important issues:
India’s commitment to pursuing economic offenders globally
The importance of bilateral cooperation between countries for law enforcement
The growing use of extradition treaties and Interpol mechanisms to bring back white-collar criminals
The need to modernize trade documentation to prevent such frauds in the future
As of now, the CBI has not issued a full public statement, but sources close to the agency confirm that Monika Kapoor will be presented in court within 48 hours of her arrival. Further legal proceedings will be initiated as per the court’s directives.
This case is expected to set a precedent for other pending extradition cases, including those of economic fugitives like Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, and Vijay Mallya.
This is not the first time that Indian investigative agencies have pursued long-term fugitives. In recent years, India has intensified its global manhunt for economic offenders, backed by a dedicated Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) and aggressive diplomatic negotiations.
The return of Monika Kapoor after more than two decades of evading Indian law is not just a legal win—it’s a symbolic victory for India’s fight against economic crime and a warning to future offenders.
Her upcoming trial will determine the extent of her culpability, but her extradition itself is a testament to India’s growing influence in international legal cooperation.
This post was published on July 9, 2025 12:05
The popular TV serial Anupamaa promises high drama. Monday's episode will be explosive. Rupali Ganguly… Read More
Devotees have begun Jalabhishek at Shri Garib Nath Dham. This started at midnight in Muzaffarpur.… Read More
Heart-wrenching news comes from Katra. This is in Jammu and Kashmir. A terrible landslide happened… Read More
The highly anticipated Lava Blaze Dragon smartphone will launch soon. It features a dual rear… Read More
The Parliament Monsoon Session 2025 has commenced. As anticipated, the session began with significant uproar.… Read More
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will close registrations today, July 21. This is for the… Read More