Deep Dive - The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill/Ordinance 2018

The parliament’s monsoon session is underway and the wise men who lead India have approved legislation this week that is expected to help the government bring back fugitives involved in white-collar crimes to stand trial in India. It is called the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill 2018. FEO, in short. The Lok Sabha had cleared the bill on July 19, and the Rajya Sabha on 25th July.

This bill will become law once it receives the President’s assent. The main difference in the new bill: it will empower the government to seize both local and overseas assets of alleged offenders who chose not to return to India to stand trial even after arrest warrants were issued.