New Delhi, July 9, 2025 — After a relentless pursuit spanning over two decades, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully extradited fugitive Monika Kapoor from the United States. Kapoor, who had been absconding since 2002, is the prime accused in a high-value import-export fraud case.
According to a CBI press release, Monika Kapoor—proprietor of M/s Monika Overseas—conspired with her brothers, Rajan Khanna and Rajeev Khanna, to forge export-related documents including shipping bills, invoices, and bank certificates of export and realization during the year 1998. Using these forged documents, they fraudulently obtained six Replenishment (Rep.) Licenses, allowing the duty-free import of gold valued at approximately ₹2.36 crore.
In furtherance of their criminal conspiracy, the accused sold these Rep. Licenses at a premium to M/s Deep Exports, Ahmedabad. The company utilized the licenses to import duty-free gold, causing a loss of approximately ₹1.44 crore to the Government exchequer.
Following a detailed investigation, a chargesheet was filed by the CBI on March 31, 2004, against Monika Kapoor, Rajan Khanna, and Rajeev Khanna under IPC Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), and 471 (using forged documents as genuine).
On December 20, 2017, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at the Saket District Court convicted Rajan and Rajeev Khanna. However, Monika Kapoor evaded investigation and trial, and was declared a proclaimed offender by the court on February 13, 2006. An open non-bailable warrant was issued against her on April 26, 2010, along with a Red Corner Notice. A formal extradition request was sent to U.S. authorities on October 19, 2010.
After years of persistent diplomatic and legal efforts, including close coordination with U.S. authorities, a CBI team traveled to the United States to secure her custody. Monika Kapoor has now been brought back to India and will be produced before the concerned court to face trial.
The CBI reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing economic offenders and reiterated that it will continue to utilize every legal avenue to bring fugitives to justice.
