THE Interpol has issued the first Silver Notice on India’s request to track the global assets of former French Embassy officer Shubham Shokeen, who is wanted in connection with visa fraud, officials said on Tuesday. The Silver Notice is a colour-coded Notice introduced by Interpol in January this year to track the movement of illicit assets across the globe. The pilot project, in which India is also a part, started with the issuance of the first Silver Notice on the request of Italy.

 

The Interpol issues nine types of colour-coded Notices, with each meant for seeking specific information from member countries worldwide. For instance, Red is for detaining a fugitive, Blue for seeking additional information, Black for unidentified bodies and Yellow for missing person. India is among the 51 member countries taking part in the first phase of Silver Notice issuance, as a pilot project that will continue till November. As part of the pilot phase, each country can get nine Silver Notices published. “Through Silver Notices and Diffusions, member countries can request information on assets linked to a person’s criminal activities such as fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, environmental crime and other serious offenses,” CBI said.

 

It said the Notice will facilitate locating, identifying and obtaining information about laundered assets including properties, vehicles, financial accounts and businesses. Countries may subsequently use such information as a basis for bilateral engagement, including bilateral requests for seizure, confiscation or recovery of assets, subject to national laws, it said. The Interpol has issued two Silver Notices in quick succession on CBI’s request. The first request was made on May 23 against Shokeen, Personnel Visas and Local Law Officer in the French Embassy in Delhi and the second on May 26 against Amit Madanlal Lakhanpal wanted by the Enforcement Directorate, the agency said in a statement. “During the period from September 2019 to May 2022, Shokeen conspired with other accused persons and facilitated issuance of Schengen visa to applicants by collecting illegal gratification ranging from Rs 15,00,000 to Rs 45,00,000 from each,” the CBI spokesperson said. He said the accused used the proceeds of crime to acquire six immovable properties worth 7,760,500 Dirhams (Rs 15,73,51,250) in Dubai.