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Bharatpol Portal

GS Paper – II: Important International Institutions, Government Policies & Interventions

Why in News? 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently launched the ‘Bharatpol’ portal in New Delhi. This initiative is seen as a significant step in India’s fight against international crime. The portal aims to track criminals, particularly those fleeing to other states or countries after committing crimes.

Introduction of Bharatpol Portal 

The Bharatpol Portal is a digital platform developed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with the primary aim of enhancing the efficiency of international criminal investigations. 

  • This portal is specifically designed to streamline the process of handling international requests for assistance through Interpol.
  • The portal plays a critical role in improving coordination between Indian law enforcement agencies and their international counterparts. 
  • By facilitating smoother communication and collaboration, Bharatpol ensures that criminal investigations can be tackled more efficiently, especially when they involve international elements. 
  • This technological initiative is an important step toward strengthening India’s ability to address global crime challenges while enhancing its cooperation with international agencies in the fight against criminal activities.

About Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

    • The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is India’s premier investigative agency, tasked with addressing corruption, economic offenses, and significant criminal cases. 
    • It initially formed in 1941 as the Special Police Establishment (SPE) to investigate bribery and corruption during World War II.
    • The CBI officially came into existence in 1963 through a resolution by the Ministry of Home Affairs. 
    • It derives its powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946.
  • Organizational Structure
      • Director: The head of CBI, responsible for administration and also serving as the Inspector General of Police for DSPE.
      • Special Directors, Additional Directors, and Joint Directors.
      • Other officials such as Deputy Inspectors General, Superintendents of Police, forensic scientists, and legal advisors.
      • The CBI Director is appointed by a high-powered committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India (or a judge nominated by the CJI)
      • The director serves a fixed term of two years, extendable up to five years.
  • Functions
    • Investigations into corruption and misconduct by central government employees.
    • Cases of financial and economic offenses, including tax violations and customs fraud.
    • Serious crimes of national and international significance committed by organized criminal groups.
    • Cases referred by state governments or courts, including murder, kidnapping, and rape.

Bharatpol Portal Features

The Bharatpol Portal is designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of criminal investigations.

  • Centralized Platform: Bharatpol serves as a unified platform that connects Indian law enforcement agencies with international bodies like Interpol. This centralized system allows for seamless coordination and collaboration.
  • Real-Time Information Sharing: One of the portal’s core features is its ability to facilitate real-time information sharing among various law enforcement agencies. This ensures that critical data can be exchanged swiftly to quicker action against criminals.
  • Enhanced Global Cooperation: The portal is designed to strengthen global cooperation between Indian authorities and international law enforcement agencies. This will help India to tackle cross border crimes.
  • Issuing Notices: Bharatpol simplifies the process of issuing Red Notices and other Interpol notices for criminals attempting to flee the country. This feature ensures that individuals involved in international crimes can be tracked and apprehended across borders.
  • Focus on Major Crimes: The portal is particularly focused on combating major crimes, including cybercrime, drug trafficking, financial fraud, and human trafficking. By targeting these high-priority offenses.

Working Process of International Crime Cases in India 

In India, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is responsible for international cooperation on criminal cases through the National Central Bureau (NCB-Delhi), which acts as the country’s liaison with Interpol

  • This coordination involves agencies at the central, state, and union territory levels, facilitated through Interpol Liaison Officers (ILOs)
  • These officers work with Unit Officers (UOs), who are typically senior officials like Superintendents of Police, Police Commissioners, or branch heads within their respective organizations.
  • Currently, communication between the CBI, ILOs, and UOs relies on traditional methods such as letters, emails, and faxes. This process can cause delays, affecting the timely execution of international requests and actions. 

About National Central Bureau (NCB-Delhi)

  • The National Central Bureau (NCB-Delhi) acts as the official liaison between Interpol and Indian law enforcement agencies. 
  • It is operated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
  • It ensures seamless international collaboration on criminal investigations and law enforcement operations.
  • It facilitates the issuance of Interpol Notices, such as Red Notices for fugitives, Blue Notices for gathering information, and Yellow Notices for locating missing persons.
  • Interpol Liaison Officers (ILOs) act as the primary contact points within various central, state, and UT-level law enforcement agencies to ensure smooth coordination.

How Bharatpol Portal will work?

The Bharatpol Portal is designed to streamline and enhance the communication and coordination between Indian law enforcement agencies. Here’s a detailed work process of Bharatpol Portal: 

  • Agency Access and Identification: Law enforcement agencies at the central, state, and union territory levels will access the portal via secure login credentials. These agencies include police departments, central agencies like CBI, and state law enforcement agencies. When an agency identifies a case involving international criminal activity, the agency inputs the relevant details into the portal. 
  • Request Submission and Tracking: Once the case details are entered, the portal allows law enforcement agencies to send real-time requests for international assistance to Interpol. These requests can be for Red Notices (for criminals fleeing the country), alerts, or other notices related to international crimes.
    • Each agency has designated Interpol Liaison Officers (ILOs) who will receive and manage these requests. The ILOs act as intermediaries between the Indian agencies and Interpol.
    • Once a request is sent through the portal, the relevant authorities, including Interpol and other international law enforcement bodies, are immediately notified.
    • Unit Officers (UOs), who are usually senior police officers (e.g., Superintendents of Police, Police Commissioners), will be able to track the progress of the case, update information, and communicate directly with Interpol.
  • Case Resolution and Action: Once international assistance is provided, and Interpol or relevant foreign law enforcement agencies apprehend the criminal or resolve the case, the portal is updated with the resolution. The involved agencies are notified, and the case is marked as closed or moved forward as necessary.

Way Forward 

The Bharatpol Portal represents a significant step in strengthening India’s international crime-fighting capabilities, but its success depends on consistent updates, widespread training for law enforcement personnel, and seamless integration with global systems like Interpol. Regular monitoring, feedback-driven improvements, and collaboration with global agencies will ensure the portal evolves to meet the challenges of increasingly sophisticated cross-border crimes.

Interpol (The International Criminal Police Organization)

  • Interpol is the world’s largest international police organization. 
  • It was founded in 1923.
  • Interpol’s General Secretariat is headquartered in Lyon, France, with regional offices worldwide. 
  • Its governing body is the General Assembly, and its daily operations are managed by the Secretary-General.
  • It works to promote cooperation among law enforcement agencies across its 195 member countries to combat transnational crime and terrorism.
  • Interpol facilitates collaboration between police forces worldwide.
  • Interpol maintains vast criminal databases to allow enforcement agencies to access information on criminals, stolen property, and global crime trends.
  • It provides expertise, tools, and personnel to assist member countries during investigations or emergencies.
  • As a neutral organization, it ensures that its activities remain apolitical, respecting the sovereignty of member countries.

UPSC PYQ (Previous Year Question)

Question: The jurisdiction of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding lodging an FIR and conducting a probe within a particular state is being questioned by various States. However, the power of the States to withhold consent to the CBI is not absolute. Explain with special reference to the federal character of India. (2021)

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