New Delhi, July 9 — In a major breakthrough for Indian law enforcement, Monika Kapoor, a fugitive economic offender accused of a multi-crore fraud, is being extradited to India from the United States after over two decades of evading justice. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has confirmed that Kapoor, who has been absconding for 26 years, will arrive in India tonight, marking the end of a long and complex international legal battle.
The extradition follows months of legal wrangling in U.S. courts, including a dramatic intervention by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who had temporarily stayed her extradition in May. However, that stay was lifted, and Kapoor’s removal was cleared under the terms of the U.S.-India Extradition Treaty.
Who Is Monika Kapoor and Why Is She Wanted?
Kapoor, an Indian citizen, is wanted in connection with a fraud case involving ₹5.6 crore (approximately $679,000). Indian investigators allege that between the late 1990s and early 2000s, Kapoor and her two brothers forged documents related to jewelry exports to illegally obtain duty-free import licenses—causing significant financial losses to the Indian government.
An arrest warrant was issued against her in April 2010, charging her under five different sections of the Indian Penal Code, including forgery and criminal conspiracy.
According to the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, the fraudulent activity was premeditated and caused “substantial economic damage.”
A Long Legal Battle in the U.S.
Kapoor entered the United States in 1999 on a visa and never left. She has been facing deportation proceedings since 2010, but her return to India was delayed repeatedly due to her legal appeals. Over the years, Kapoor filed for asylum, withholding of removal, and protections under the United Nations Convention Against Torture, claiming she would face political persecution and potential abuse if returned to India.
In May 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court received a petition from Kapoor seeking to block her extradition. Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a temporary administrative stay on May 19, halting a March ruling from a three-judge panel of the 2nd Circuit Court that allowed her extradition.
Kapoor’s plea argued that her removal violated international human rights standards and that the lower courts had denied her a fair hearing. She claimed that she fled India with her young children after refusing to pay extortion money to corrupt officials and faced threats of sexual violence, illegal detention, and verbal abuse.
However, a U.S. magistrate judge in New York found Kapoor eligible for extradition, and her appeals were eventually rejected by both the U.S. District Court and the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, citing precedent that prohibits using the UN Convention Against Torture as a basis for challenging extradition in U.S. courts.
India Welcomes Extradition as a Legal Win
Sources within the CBI describe Kapoor’s return as a “significant achievement in the fight against international economic offenders.” The case sets a precedent for future extradition cases, especially those involving long-standing fugitives living under legal cover in foreign nations.
“This is a result of persistent diplomatic and legal efforts. It sends a strong message that economic offenders cannot escape justice by fleeing abroad,” a senior official familiar with the case told reporters.
What’s Next for Monika Kapoor?
Upon arrival in India, Kapoor is expected to be taken into custody by the CBI and formally presented before a court in accordance with Indian extradition procedures. She will face trial for the alleged financial fraud, and further investigation may be reopened into the roles of her alleged co-conspirators.
Legal experts believe Kapoor’s extradition may also rekindle attention toward other pending cases of economic offenders hiding abroad.
