In a groundbreaking move, Interpol has issued its very first “Silver Notice” at India’s behest, targeting Shubham Shokeen, a former official of the French Embassy. Shokeen is the prime accused in a massive visa scam and has been on the run, prompting this unprecedented international action. The newly introduced Silver Notice, launched in January as a pilot project with 51 participating countries including India, is designed specifically to trace and track illicitly acquired global assets. This crucial development aims to uncover the vast wealth Shokeen allegedly amassed through fraudulent means, particularly focusing on the six immovable properties worth approximately ₹15.7 crore he reportedly purchased in Dubai with the proceeds of the scam. The CBI, which had previously issued a Blue Notice to locate Shokeen, believes this new mechanism will significantly aid in the recovery and confiscation of assets in such complex transnational financial crimes.

The allegations against Shokeen are severe: between September 2019 and May 2022, he, along with other co-accused, allegedly extorted bribes ranging from ₹15 lakh to ₹45 lakh from individuals in exchange for visas at the French Embassy. The implementation of the Silver Notice marks a significant escalation in the pursuit of financial criminals who attempt to hide their ill-gotten gains across borders. Following this, a second Silver Notice was issued on May 26 against Amit Madanlal, who is under investigation by the ED for allegedly creating an unrecognized cryptocurrency, MTC, and collecting around ₹113 crore from investors before absconding. Madanlal reportedly defrauded people by posing as an authorized representative of the Ministry of Finance. The CBI has emphasized that the Silver Notice will empower authorities to trace, seize, or recover properties in such cases, subject to the laws of the respective countries, adding a vital tool to Interpol’s existing array of nine color-coded notices, which include Red for fugitives, Blue for information, Black for unidentified bodies, and Yellow for missing persons.