New Delhi witnessed a major breakthrough in law enforcement on February 10 when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) successfully repatriated wanted criminal Sombeer Motta from the United States. With seamless coordination from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the operation marked another victory against cross-border fugitives.
Hailing from Haryana, Motta was a prime suspect in serious charges involving murder and illegal possession of arms. His deportation from America was executed flawlessly, and Haryana Police has now taken custody to proceed with legal proceedings.
The pursuit began earlier when, acting on Haryana Police’s request, CBI triggered an Interpol Red Notice on February 11, 2025. Through Interpol channels, they collaborated with NCB Washington to track and secure his return. Red Notices, disseminated globally to law enforcement agencies, proved instrumental in locating high-profile fugitives like Motta.
As India’s nodal agency for Interpol, known as IndiaPol, CBI bridges the gap between domestic forces and international partners. Over recent years, this mechanism has facilitated the return of more than 150 wanted criminals to Indian soil.
This success echoes a similar feat in January this year, when Haryana’s Special Task Force (STF) orchestrated the extradition of gangster Aman Kumar alias Aman Bhainswal from the US. Bhainswal headed a sprawling crime syndicate operating across Sonipat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, and even the national capital.
Facing ten criminal cases in Haryana and Delhi, Bhainswal resorted to forged documents to evade justice. Despite multiple failed attempts, he slipped out on June 20, 2024, using a fake passport to reach Kuwait and then the US. Haryana authorities in Gohana registered cases under the Indian Justice Code (IJC) and Passport Act upon discovery.
A Look-Out Circular (LOC) was promptly issued, followed by an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN), culminating in his formal declaration as a proclaimed offender. These back-to-back repatriations underscore India’s growing prowess in international policing, sending a strong message to fugitives hiding abroad: justice knows no borders.