Shubham Shokeen, once a little-known administrative officer at the French Embassy in India, is now the face of a high-profile international fraud case that has triggered Interpol’s first-ever Silver Notice a new global tool to trace illicit assets. Accused of running a massive visa scam between 2019 and 2022, Shokeen is believed to have used his position to issue Schengen visas in exchange for bribes ranging between ₹15–45 lakh per applicant.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which initiated the probe in December 2022, claims Shokeen facilitated fraudulent visas for individuals—mostly from Punjab and Jammu—using forged documents allegedly issued by a Bengaluru-based private company. These individuals claimed fictitious job offers at France’s Port-le-Havre to gain entry into the European Union.
From Blue to Silver: India’s Pursuit of Global Accountability
Before the Silver Notice, Interpol had issued a Blue Notice in 2023 to help locate and identify Shokeen. However, with investigations revealing that he had laundered his earnings into six real estate properties in Dubai, worth nearly 7.76 million AED (approx. ₹15.73 crore), India pushed Interpol to take stronger action.
That pressure culminated in the Silver Notice new tool introduced by Interpol in January 2024 to assist in tracking illegal assets worldwide. India, one of 51 participating countries in the pilot phase, can request up to nine Silver Notices. This action against Shokeen marks the country’s first.
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According to Interpol guidelines, a Silver Notice helps member countries request or share details related to criminal assets across borders. The move demonstrates a shift in global law enforcement, where tracking the money trail is as crucial as arresting the individual.
A Web of Forgery and Missing Files: Inside the CBI’s Case
The CBI’s investigation paints a damning picture of institutional abuse. Shokeen, working as a Personal Visa and Local Law Officer at the French Embassy, allegedly conspired with his colleague Aarti Mandal to process fake applications under the pretense of legitimate employment abroad.
During raids, investigators discovered that multiple visa files especially from Punjab were missing, raising suspicions of systemic manipulation. These cases largely involved unemployed youth or low-risk applicants, suggesting a targeted strategy to avoid scrutiny.
The fraudulent documents were often supported by counterfeit job letters issued by the same Bengaluru-based firm. Once visas were approved, applicants entered Europe, where many disappeared into the unregulated labor markets.
CBI officials allege that proceeds from this elaborate scheme were routed overseas, culminating in high-end property acquisitions in Dubai spurring India’s request for Interpol’s assistance in asset tracing.
Silver Notice: India’s New Weapon in Transnational Crime Investigations
Interpol’s color-coded notice system is well-known: Red for fugitives, Blue for location tracking, Yellow for missing persons, and so on. Silver Notices, introduced recently, represent a significant advancement in international cooperation, focused exclusively on financial forensics and asset recovery.
According to CBI’s official statement,
“Through Silver Notices, member countries can request or disseminate information related to proceeds of crime linked to fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, environmental crime, and other serious offenses.”
As Interpol’s pilot program runs through November 2024, India is expected to issue more Silver Notices to strengthen its crackdown on fugitive economic offenders. The Shokeen case sets the tone, signaling that cross-border criminal finance will now face global exposure.
Meanwhile, the hunt for Shubham Shokeen continues, but the message is clear: even diplomatic credentials can’t shield corruption from a world increasingly united against it.