Red Corner Notice issued against 25 economic offenders, says Nirmala Sitharaman
Sitharaman informed the Parliament that extradition requests have been issued for 14 persons and action under FEOA have been initiated against 7 personsThe minister said the govt has adequate legal and administrative measures in place to tackle economic offenders
New Delhi: The government has issued Red Corner Notice (RCN) against as many as 25 persons involved in economic offences, while action has been initiated against seven persons, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in Parliament on Tuesday.
As many as 28 individuals accused in criminal cases are being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) who are either residing abroad or who have left the country before initiation of investigations by the agency, Sitharaman said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
"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 7 persons and 3 persons accused under PMLA have been brought back to India," she said.
The minister said the government has 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," she said further.
In cases where the accused persons may already be residing abroad or may have left India before commencement of the investigation under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), action is taken by issuance of RCN and extradition request, she said.
"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," Sitharaman said.
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