Interpol Issues Two Silver Notices On India's Request In Visa Fraud, Crypto Scam Cases

Last Updated:May 28, 2025, 10:43 IST

Two Silver Notices have been issued on India’s request to track illicit assets of Shubham Shokeen, accused in a major visa fraud case, and Amit Lakhanpal in a crypto scam case.

People walk on the Interpol logo at the international police agency headquarters in Lyon, central France (Photo: AP)

The Interpol has issued two Silver notices on India’s request to track the global assets of former French Embassy officer Shubham Shokeen, who is wanted in connection with a visa fraud case, and the other one against Amit Madanlal Lakhanpal, wanted by the Enforcement Directorate.

The first Silver Notice was issued by the Interpol on May 23, while the second one was issued on May 26.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Shokeen, between September 2019 and May 2022, conspired with some others and facilitated issuance of Schengen visa to applicants by collecting illegal gratification ranging from Rs 15,00,000 to Rs 45,00,000 from each.

The agency also said Shokeen used the proceeds of crime to acquire six immovable properties worth 7,760,500 dirhams (Rs 15,73,51,250) in Dubai.

Earlier, the CBI got a Blue notice issued against Shokeen to trace his whereabouts.

Lakhanpal, who is wanted by the Enforcement Directorate, allegedly created a cryptocurrency named MTC, which is not recognised in India, for his own financial gains, the CBI statement mentioned.

“He lured investors to invest in MTC and collected funds of about Rs 113.10 crore from them. He did so without requisite permission and license from the government or the Reserve Bank of India," it said.

The CBI said he did not return the invested amount to depositors as promised by him while collecting the funds.

“He embezzled the collected funds and cheated the investors. To lure people, he posed as the authorised representative of the Ministry of Finance," the agency said.

The statement said India has already submitted requests for publication of Silver notices in cases being investigated by the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate, and the Narcotics Control Bureau.

WHAT IS A SILVER NOTICE?

The Silver notice is a colour-coded notice introduced by the Interpol in January this year to track the movement of illicit assets across the globe.

The pilot project, of which India is also a part, started with the issuance of the first Silver notice on the request of Italy.

The Interpol issues nine types of colour-coded notices, each meant for seeking specific information from member countries worldwide. For instance, Red is for detaining a fugitive, Blue for seeking additional information, Black for unidentified bodies and Yellow for missing persons.

India is among the 51 member countries taking part in the first phase of Silver notice issuance. The pilot project will continue till November.

As part of the pilot phase, each country can get nine Silver notices published.

In a statement on Tuesday, the CBI said, “Through Silver notices and Diffusions, member countries can request information on assets linked to a person’s criminal activities such as fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, environmental crime and other serious offences."

It said the notice will facilitate locating, identifying and obtaining information about laundered assets, including properties, vehicles, financial accounts and businesses.

Countries may subsequently use such information as a basis for bilateral engagement, including bilateral requests for seizure, confiscation or recovery of assets, subject to national laws, the agency said.

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