In a groundbreaking move, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has secured the country’s first-ever INTERPOL Silver Notices, marking a significant step in global efforts to track and recover assets linked to criminal activities.
Launched as part of a pilot phase involving 51 countries, INTERPOL’s Silver Notice enables member nations to share alerts and requests for information on assets tied to serious crimes such as fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, and environmental offences.
This initiative, running until at least November 2025, allows each country to publish up to nine Silver Notices, and India has already taken the lead by targeting high-profile cases.
What is the Silver Notice?
The Silver Notice, a new tool introduced by INTERPOL, facilitates the identification, location, and monitoring of assets acquired through criminal activities, including properties, vehicles, financial accounts, and businesses. Unlike INTERPOL’s Red or Blue Notices, which focus on locating individuals, the Silver Notice zeroes in on illicit wealth, enabling countries to gather critical information for potential seizure, confiscation, or recovery of assets, subject to national laws. This pilot phase, involving 51 countries and territories, is a testing ground for this innovative mechanism, with India among the first to leverage its potential.
Case 1: Shokeen Shubham’s Visa Fraud Empire
On May 23, 2025, the CBI secured India’s first Silver Notice against Shokeen Shubham, a former Personnel Visas & Local Law Officer at a foreign embassy in New Delhi. Between September 2019 and May 2022, Shubham allegedly orchestrated a sophisticated visa fraud scheme, conspiring with others to facilitate Schengen visas for applicants in exchange for hefty bribes ranging from INR 15,00,000 to INR 45,00,000 per person. The proceeds of this illicit operation were used to acquire six immovable properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, valued at 7,760,500 Dirhams (approximately INR 15,73,51,250).
The CBI’s investigation revealed Shubham’s role in exploiting his position to manipulate visa processes, defrauding applicants and amassing significant wealth abroad. Prior to the Silver Notice, the CBI had also secured a Blue Notice through INTERPOL to trace Shubham’s whereabouts, underscoring the agency’s relentless pursuit of justice. The Silver Notice now aims to locate and monitor his Dubai-based assets, paving the way for potential recovery efforts.
Case 2: Amit Madanlal Lakhanpal’s Cryptocurrency Scam
On May 26, 2025, the CBI, acting on a request from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), secured a second Silver Notice against Amit Madanlal Lakhanpal, the mastermind behind a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme. Lakhanpal created an unrecognised digital currency called MTC, luring investors with false promises of high returns. Without requisite permissions from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) or the government, he collected approximately INR 113.10 crore from unsuspecting investors. Instead of delivering on his promises, Lakhanpal embezzled the funds, leaving investors financially devastated.
To bolster his fraudulent scheme, Lakhanpal impersonated an authorised representative of India’s Ministry of Finance, further deceiving investors. A Red Notice had previously been issued against him through INTERPOL to aid in his apprehension. The Silver Notice now targets his assets worldwide, aiming to identify and recover the illicit proceeds of his cryptocurrency scam.
The issuance of these Silver Notices marks a turning point in India’s fight against transnational financial crime. By leveraging INTERPOL’s global network, the CBI, alongside agencies like the ED and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), is sending a clear message: criminal proceeds will not remain hidden, no matter where they are stashed. India has already submitted additional requests for Silver Notices in other cases under investigation, signalling an aggressive approach to asset recovery.
The Silver Notice pilot phase, running until November 2025, is expected to refine the processes for asset tracking and recovery, potentially leading to its permanent adoption by INTERPOL’s 196 member countries. For India, this initiative aligns with its broader efforts to combat money laundering, corruption, and financial fraud, particularly in cases involving overseas assets.
As the CBI continues to collaborate with INTERPOL and other international partners, the successful issuance of India’s first Silver Notices underscores the country’s commitment to upholding justice and dismantling the financial networks of criminals worldwide.
For more information, visit www.cbi.gov.in.
