CBI achieves major success: Sheela Kalyani, wanted in Saudi Arabia, extradited to India after being on the run in a criminal conspiracy case:

News Topical, Digital Desk : India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has achieved a major success. The CBI has successfully brought back to India Manakandathil Thekkethi, alias Sheela Kalyani, a wanted criminal from Saudi Arabia. This action was taken on serious charges of criminal conspiracy and fraud.

Serious charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating

The CBI executed this significant extradition through Interpol channels with the active cooperation of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). According to the CBI, Sheela Kalyani faces serious charges of criminal conspiracy and fraud.

On 5 October 2023, an Interpol Red Notice was issued against Sheela Kalyani.

After the issuance of the Red Notice, the CBI maintained constant coordination with Interpol and the concerned authorities of Saudi Arabia.

As a result of this coordination, a special CBI team went to Saudi Arabia and brought him back to India on 9 October 2025.

Role of Interpol and Bharatpol

The CBI stated that the Red Notice issued by Interpol is sent to agencies worldwide to track such absconding criminals. In India, the CBI serves as the national nodal agency for Interpol and connects investigative agencies across the country through a dedicated platform called "Bharatpol."

The CBI said that in the last few years, more than 130 wanted criminals have been brought back to India through Interpol channels.