Fugitive businesswoman accused in 2002 import-export fraud case extradited from US after 2 decades

Monika Kapoor is accused of committing fraud of Rs 1.44 cr in 1998. CBI team is returning with her to India, where she will face trial. Her brothers, also accused, were convicted in 2017.

A team of CBI officials returning on board American Airlines flight with fugitive Monika Kapoor (extreme left) after her extradition from the US | PTI

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation has extradited fugitive economic offender Monika Kapoor from the US, accused in a 2002 import-export fraud case. The extradition was done Wednesday after two decades, the agency said in a statement. Kapoor had been on the run since the case was lodged.

The CBI team is returning to India with the fugitive, the agency has said. She is being produced before the concerned court and will now face trial.

According to CBI’s statement, Kapoor, proprietor of M/s Monika Overseas was part of an alleged criminal conspiracy with her brothers, Rajan Khanna and Rajiv Khanna. They allegedly forged documents like shipping bills, invoices, and bank certificates of export and realisation in 1998, obtaining six replenishment (rep.) licenses for import of duty-free gold worth Rs 2.36 crore.

“In furtherance of the criminal conspiracy, they sold the said Rep. Licenses to M/s Deep Exports, Ahmedabad on premium. M/s Deep Exports, Ahmedabad utilised the said licenses and imported duty-free gold, which caused loss to the Government Exchequer to the extent of Rs 1.44 crore during the year 1998,” the statement added.

The CBI filed a chargesheet after completion of investigation on 31 March, 2004 against Kapoor and her brothers under sections linked to criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery, among others, under the Indian Penal Code. Rajan and Rajiv were convicted by a Delhi court in December 2017.

Kapoor, meanwhile, was declared a proclaimed offender by the trial court in February 2006, and a non-bailable warrant was issued against her in April 2010. A Red Notice was also issued against her, and a request for extradition was sent by CBI in October 2010 to the US.

“Following intense coordination with authorities in the US, a CBI team went there to take custody of the fugitive. This extradition marks a major breakthrough in the pursuit of justice and reiterates CBI’s commitment to bringing fugitives to face the law in India, irrespective of international boundaries,” the agency said.

(Edited by Mannat Chugh)