Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the BHARATPOL portal, a cutting-edge online platform developed by the CBI to enable real-time collaboration between Indian law enforcement agencies and Interpol. Designed to streamline international assistance in criminal investigations, the portal will help track fugitives, combat transnational crimes, and enhance coordination with Interpol’s 195 member countries. Shah emphasized the need for modern technology in law enforcement and urged capacity-building for the portal and new criminal laws enabling trials in absentia.
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NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the BHARATPOL portal, a new online platform created by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to help Indian law enforcement agencies seek real-time assistance from Interpol.
During the event, Shah emphasized the importance of using advanced technology to track and bring fugitives who have committed crimes in India to justice.
“It is time that we use modern technology and techniques to nab and bring to justice the fugitives who absconded from India after committing a crime,”
-Shah remarked.
He highlighted the necessity of keeping up with global challenges by upgrading internal systems, with BHARATPOL being a significant step in this direction.
The portal’s standout feature is its real-time interface, which will allow both central and state law enforcement agencies to easily connect with Interpol. This streamlined connection aims to accelerate the investigation process.
Additionally, the platform will enable law enforcement agencies to share and receive case-related information with Interpol’s 195 member countries.
The Home Minister also pointed out the introduction of three new criminal laws last year, which enable trials against fugitives and absconders even in their absence. Addressing the Central Bureau of Investigation, Shah said,
“I would urge the CBI to take the responsibility of training the states for capacity building regarding BHARATPOL and also for the three new criminal laws.”
He also stressed the importance of institutionalizing systems and understanding various Interpol notices and their procedures.
According to CBI officials, BHARATPOL is an advanced platform designed to help state and union territory police forces, as well as central agencies, quickly send requests to Interpol for information about fugitives hiding abroad or other related matters.
The officials emphasized the urgent need for a rapid and real-time international coordination system due to the increasing occurrence of transnational crimes such as cybercrime, financial fraud, online radicalization, organized crime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.
“At the central, state, and UT levels, this coordination is executed through Interpol Liaison Officers (ILOs), who are further linked to Unit Officers (UOs) at the level of Superintendents of Police, Commissioners of Police and Branch Heads, within their respective organisations. Presently, communications among the CBI, ILOs, and UOs primarily rely on letters, emails, and faxes,”
-a senior officer explained.
The BHARATPOL portal will be accessible through its official website, bringing together all stakeholders on a unified platform. This will streamline international assistance requests, including issuing Red Notices and other color-coded Interpol notices.
A senior officer noted,
“The project designed and executed by the CBI will cut avoidable delays and result in getting more notices published through Interpol in the future.”
Since 2021, coordination through Interpol channels has led to the return of 100 wanted criminals to India, including 26 in 2024 alone.
At the launch event, Amit Shah presented Police Medals to 35 CBI officers and officials. These medals included the President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Service and the Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation.
The introduction of the BHARATPOL platform signifies a major step forward in leveraging technology for law enforcement and fostering collaboration with global partners through Interpol, aligning India with international crime-fighting standards.
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