Red Corner Notice of Interpol

Key updates-

• Gurpatwant Singh is the Canada-based founder and legal advisor of the pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
• The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has listed him as a “terrorist” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
• The Interpol has said India has failed to provide sufficient information to support its case, and that the UAPA has been criticised for being “misused” to target minority groups and human rights activists without “respecting” their right to due process and a fair trial.

What is a Red Notice?

• Criminals or suspects often flee to other countries to evade facing justice. A Red Corner Notice, or Red Notice (RN) alerts police forces across the world about fugitives who are wanted internationally.
• As per Interpol, Red Notices are issued for fugitives wanted either for prosecution or to serve a sentence. A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.
• RNs contain information that helps identify wanted persons, such as their names, dates of birth, nationality, and physical attributes such as the colour of their hair and eyes, as well as pictures and biometric data such as fingerprints, if they are available. 

RNs also mention the crime(s) they are wanted for.

• It is published by Interpol at the request of a member country. The fugitives may be wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence. 
• The country issuing the request need not be the home country of the fugitive; Interpol acts on the request of a country where the alleged crime has been committed.
• The number of valid RNs which are not public is several times more. These RNs are restricted for use by law enforcement authorities only. 
• An RN is published on Interpol’s website only in cases where the help of the public is needed to locate an individual, or if those individuals pose a threat to public safety.
• Among the most popular Indians on this list are jeweller Mehul Choksi and diamantaire Nirav Modi.
• An RN is only an international wanted persons’ notice; it is not an international arrest warrant. 
• Interpol itself does not want individuals; they are wanted by a country or an international tribunal.
• This means the Interpol cannot compel law enforcement authorities in any country to arrest the subject of an RN. 
• It is up to individual member countries to decide what legal value to give to an RN, and the authority of their national law enforcement officers to make arrests.
• The Interpol says that an RN must comply with its constitution and rules. It further says that every Red Notice request is checked by a specialised task force to ensure it is compliant with (Interpol) rules.

• The Interpol argues that an RN is issued only after a competent court has taken cognisance of a chargesheet against the fugitive.

Types of notices issued by Interpol-