What Is An Interpol Red Corner Notice?

Folks,

There is not a lot of clarity about what a Red Corner Notice means. Here is an explanation from the Interpol Press Office. Also, if you are facing an Red Corner Notice, most western countries will not just put you on a flight and deport you. There are quite a few formalities that need to be completed and a local judge needs to be convinced that you have done something terribly bad to deserve to be deported. And if you choose to fight the extradition, the other side will need to spend a LOT of $$$$ to really get you out. So, if some one is threatening you with a Red Corner Alert, then wish them the best and go about your life. The only drawback is that you may not be able to go back to India. One last thing, you may be able to get a stay on the NBW so the Red Corner Alert is moot. Again, cross check with lawyers who are well versed in all this.

Here is a link that contains information about the different notices: Interpol Notices

DIG Vinay Ranjan Ray Explains The Process Of Having An RCN Issued

You can read about NRIs and Interpol’s most wanted here:

Interpol’s Most Wanted – NRI Grooms Not Amongst Them

For those of you in the US, don’t worry about extradition or what ever. The US is one country in the world where due process is still given primary importance. Here is an an entry from the Dept Of Justice Handbook for prosecutors.

Here is the link to the US DOJ procedures on extradition.

For those of you in the US, here is an interesting link to a Bloomberg.com News article on US extradition.

More Information: http://www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/LegalMaterials/FactSheets/FS13.asp#1

Here is a link to the CBI website if you want to check if your handsome face is posted on the wanted list.

Technically, what is an Interpol Red Corner Alert ?

• It is one of the ways in which Interpol informs its 186 member countries that an arrest warrant has been issued for an individual by a judicial authority.
• It is not an international arrest warrant.
• The individuals concerned are wanted by national jurisdictions and Interpol’s role is to assist national police forces in identifying or locating those individuals with a view to their arrest and extradition.
• Red Notices are only issued to Interpol member countries if the requesting National Central Bureau (NCB) has provided all the information required by the General Secretariat, including details of a valid arrest warrant for the country in question.
• Interpol’s General Secretariat does not send officers to arrest individuals who are the subject of a Red Notice.
• Many of Interpol’s member countries however, consider a Red Notice a valid request for provisional arrest, especially if they are linked to the requesting country via a bilateral extradition treaty. In cases where arrests are made based on a Red Notice, these are made by national police officials in Interpol member countries
• Interpol cannot demand that any member country arrest the subject of a Red Notice..

In reality, if you are an Indian national, what would a Red Corner Notice mean to you? (The answers are given by a couple of guys who commented on this blog)

A red corner notice is actually “a spot out device on the immigration computer”. When a passenger checks in or checks out of India at the international immigration counter, the moment the passengers passport number is fed in ”a red flag appears” beside it to alert the immigration officer that this person is wanted by the police of any police station in India.The passenger is detained irrespective of nationality and the airport police take that passenger away to the nearest police station, for the sole reason of extorting money by any means. The highest rate is an American national, second comes a brutish national, because the conversion rate of the dollar and the pound is the best to bargain so the passengers of these nationalities are supposed to be gold nuggets for the immigration officers who are always on the prowl to make a buck. A criminal nexus is then arranged between the immigration officers and the police and the passenger is harassed in every possible way!

“Look-Out-Circulars” by Indian police are posted at every airport in India to catch innocent people who are entering India through any international airport while getting their passport checked. These stations are at Raja- Sansi -Amritsar, IGI Airport Delhi. Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. The moment your passport number is entered a red flag appears beside your name and your case details come up on the screen after which being detained for hours you are taken to a police station where your passport will be detained and given back to you only after you pay a hefty bribe to the concerned officials beware!!!!

Read the comments on this post to understand more.

News Articles:

• Here is an article from The Hindu on lookout circulars.
• Interpol RCN Against NRIs For Dowry Allegations

Also, read this to understand and survive this mess, if you are a non resident Indian national facing a 498A: A Guide To Surviving IPC 498A

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