CONTEXT  

• CBI filed a chargesheet (June 2024) against 8 individuals, including a local law officer at the French Embassy, New Delhi, and his family.
• The case involves fraudulent issuance of Schengen visas from Jan 2021 to May 2022.

CONCEPT: INTERPOL SILVER NOTICE – WHAT & WHY

• India secured its first-ever “Silver Notice” from Interpol, a significant step in international asset tracing.
• Part of a pilot project (2023–2025) involving 52 countries, initiated after a request by Italy.
• Silver Notice is a new color-coded alert by Interpol focused on identifying criminal assets.
• Targets fraud, corruption, money laundering, drug trafficking, and environmental crimes.
• Used to request data on properties, bank accounts, vehicles, and businesses tied to criminal activity.
• Aids in tracing, freezing, and recovering assets across borders, depending on national laws.
• India is an active participant, with access to 500 notices in the trial phase.

CURRENT

• CBI’s International Operations & Interpol Wing used the Silver Notice to track assets abroad in this visa scam.
• Marks a milestone in India’s efforts to curb transnational crime and follow the money trail beyond borders.
• Enhances India’s ability to trace proceeds of crime, especially black money stashed offshore.
• Facilitates asset recovery in high-profile economic offenses and boosts cross-border legal cooperation.
• Supports India’s anti-corruption and financial crime frameworks under laws like PMLA & Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.
• Highlights the growing importance of multi-agency coordination and tech-driven international policing.