Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) president and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on Saturday said the Bhagwant Mann government has brought back 10 wanted fugitives from abroad through deportation or extradition in the seven months since the state set up its Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC).
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Arora said 21 more extradition proposals are currently pending with the Central Government. He said the state government was pursuing fugitives operating from foreign countries as part of its efforts to curb gangsterism and organised crime in Punjab.
OFTEC Set Up To Track Overseas Fugitives
According to Arora, Punjab Police established OFTEC on January 20, 2026, with the objective of identifying, tracking
and tracing fugitives based abroad and bringing them back to face the law.
He said the cell coordinates with the state investigation machinery, Bureau of Investigation, CBI, Interpol, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, local police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Arora said the mechanism is particularly aimed at cases where criminal activity in Punjab is allegedly being planned or directed from abroad.
Gangster Brought Back From Moldova
Arora highlighted the return of gangster Amritpal Singh alias Amrit Dalam from Moldova on Saturday. He said the accused faces three serious cases.
He also listed several other fugitives who, according to the government, have been brought back to India from different countries this year.
Ajay Singh alias Ajay Malaysia and Pawandeep Singh, both wanted in FIR No. 150 dated October 27, 2025, registered under the BNS and Explosive Substances Act at Jodhewal police station in Ludhiana, were brought back from Malaysia on August 19, 2026.
Jaspreet Singh alias Jass Behbal, wanted in three FIRs registered in Faridkot and Barnala, was also brought back from Malaysia on August 19. Manjeet Singh and Gurvinder Singh, wanted in FIR No. 76 at Kotwali police station in Patiala, were brought back from Malaysia on June 18.
Jobanjit Billa, wanted in FIR No. 94 dated May 24, 2023, under the IPC and Arms Act at Beas police station in Amritsar, was brought back from Indonesia on July 24.
From the UAE, Amritpal Singh Mehron, wanted in two FIRs in Amritsar and Barnala, was brought back on April 10. Bhuvnesh Chopra, wanted in seven FIRs registered in Ferozepur, Kharar, Fazilka and Patiala, was brought back on March 12.
Kamal alias Kamal Athwal alias Kamalpreet Singh Billa, wanted in FIR No. 132 at Machhiwara police station in Khanna, was brought back from the US on March 24.
Arora Targets Previous Governments Over Gangsterism
Arora contrasted the current government’s action against overseas fugitives with the situation under previous Akali-BJP and Congress governments.
Referring to debates in the 2021 Budget Session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, he said Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia had traded allegations over alleged political links with gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria.
Arora said the Mann government had made tackling drugs and gangsterism a priority and would not allow criminal elements to operate from Punjab or from abroad.
Calls For Central Action Against Gangsters Operating From Other States
Arora also called for action against gangsters whom he alleged were operating national and international criminal networks from jails or safe havens in BJP-ruled states.
He said Punjab’s efforts alone could not address organised crime networks that operate across state and international borders, particularly with criminals using encrypted messages and voice calls.
“Tracking these cannot be the responsibility of the state police alone,” Arora said, calling for greater coordination between central agencies and state police.
Appeal To Centre On Pending Extradition Cases
Arora said extradition cases require coordination between the state police and the Central Government, including the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs.
He urged the Centre to act on the 21 extradition proposals pending with it and said Punjab would continue pursuing fugitives based abroad.
He also appealed to people to report criminal incidents, attempted crimes and extortion calls to the local police, assuring that the government and police would take action against such activities.
