New Delhi: Marking a significant step in the global fight against financial crimes, Interpol has, for the first time, issued a Silver Notice following a request from Indian authorities. The notice pertains to Shubham Shokeen, a former staff member at the French Embassy in Delhi, who is under investigation for his alleged role in a large-scale visa fraud and money laundering case.
Shokeen is suspected of orchestrating a fraudulent visa scheme between September 2019 and May 2022, reportedly accepting bribes ranging from ₹15 lakh to ₹45 lakh in exchange for Schengen visas. Proceeds from the scam were allegedly used to purchase luxury real estate in Dubai, with six properties estimated to be worth over ₹15 crore.
Interpol’s Silver Notice, introduced earlier this year as part of a pilot program, focuses on tracing assets derived from serious crimes such as corruption, fraud, and money laundering. This latest notice enables international cooperation in identifying, locating, and potentially recovering illicit assets. The program includes 51 countries and will run until November 2025, allowing each nation to request up to nine such notices during the trial period.
In addition to Shokeen, Interpol has also issued a Silver Notice against Amit Madanlal Lakhanpal, accused of operating a fake cryptocurrency investment scheme (MTC) that defrauded investors of more than ₹113 crore.
According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), these notices are expected to significantly boost international collaboration on asset tracing and recovery, subject to respective national laws. The initiative is seen as a major advancement in curbing transnational financial crimes and ensuring that illicit wealth can no longer remain hidden across borders.
