NEW DELHI: In a major breakthrough against financial crime, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), successfully secured the deportation of Red Notice subject Vishakha Rathod from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on August 3, 2026.Rathod is a key suspect wanted in connection with a large-scale financial fraud case. Investigators said she entered into a criminal conspiracy with multiple associates to deceive unsuspecting investors. The syndicate allegedly lured victims into investing in various lucrative schemes by fraudulently guaranteeing fixed monthly returns. Instead of fulfilling these promises, Rathod allegedly misappropriated the invested funds, systematically siphoning and diverting the proceeds through a complex network of bank and demat accounts.To trace and detain the fugitive, an INTERPOL Red Notice was issued against Rathod following a request from the Indian authorities. Upon her arrival at Pune Airport on August 3, 2026, Rathod was immediately taken into custody by a specialised team of the Maharashtra Police to face ongoing judicial proceedings.As the designated National Central Bureau (NCB) for INTERPOL in India, the CBI routinely coordinates with law enforcement agencies across the country through the BHARATPOL platform, leveraging international policing channels to facilitate extraditions and deportations.The successful operation underscores India’s intensified efforts to bring back fugitives who have fled abroad. According to official data from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), 27 fugitives were successfully returned to India during the last financial year. In addition, law enforcement agencies geo-located 71 wanted fugitives abroad in 2024–25, the highest number of overseas traces recorded in the past 12 years.
