After over two decades on the run, alleged economic offender Monika Kapoor extradited to India
In a major breakthrough in a long-pending economic offence case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken custody of Monika Kapoor in the United States and is bringing her back to India. Kapoor, accused in a 2002 import-export fraud case, had been evading Indian authorities for more than 20 years, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
Monika Kapoor was extradited from the US in connection with a Rs 1.44 crore fraud case involving forged export documents and duty-free gold imports.
According to the CBI, Kapoor—proprietor of M/s Monika Overseas—along with her brothers Rajan Khanna and Rajeev Khanna, forged documents including shipping bills, invoices, and bank certificates of export and realisation during 1998. This allowed her to fraudulently obtain six Replenishment (Rep.) Licenses to import duty-free gold worth Rs 2.36 crore.
The licenses were later sold to M/s Deep Exports in Ahmedabad, who used them to import gold without paying customs duties, causing a loss of Rs 1.44 crore to the government
Legal timeline: Convictions, warrants, and international chase
The CBI filed a charge sheet on March 31, 2004, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery. While Rajan and Rajeev Khanna were convicted by a New Delhi court in 2017, Monika Kapoor failed to appear for trial and was declared a proclaimed offender in 2006.
An open non-bailable warrant was issued in 2010, followed by a Red Corner Notice. The extradition request was formally submitted to US authorities on October 19, 2010.
Following persistent coordination and legal processes, a CBI team travelled to the US to take custody of Kapoor. She will be produced before the concerned court upon arrival in India.
CBI reiterates commitment to bringing fugitives to justice
Describing the extradition as a milestone in its pursuit of justice, the CBI said it remains firm in its mission to combat economic crimes and will continue to pursue fugitives across international borders using all legal means available.
