India: New CBI director favours joint ops with foreign countries

(August 02, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian)With increasing number of crimes having international links, the CBI today favoured joint operations with foreign agencies against criminals setting up global syndicates.

"CBI's role is not limited within the boundary of the country. We want to have joint operations, investigation, joint prosecution even with other countries," new CBI Director Ashwani Kumar told reporters after assuming charge here.

Kumar said Indian criminals were being prosecuted even in other countries for different crimes, including illegal money transfer. "Our assets -- illegal money -- are being transferred to other countries. So our task is how to bring that money back and catch the criminals," he said.

Asked whether the CBI would be able to arrest key accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts Dawood Ibrahim, believed to be in Pakistan, during his tenure, Kumar said an Interpol Red Corner notice has already been served against the gangster and he was hopeful that Dawood would be brought to justice.

"We will be successful. I hope we will be successful in bringing him back to the country. I hope we will not only be able to arrest him but also other criminals," he said.

The 58-year-old Kumar also favoured close coordination between state police forces and the CBI to deal with different crimes.

"The state police forces have a major role to perform and the CBI can assist them. When the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) had visited Ahmedabad (following the serial blasts), he announced that there would be joint operation, joint investigation," he said.
- Sri Lanka Guardian