The Haryana Special Task Force (STF), in collaboration with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and other agencies, has achieved a landmark by securing the extradition of alleged gangster Venkat Garg from Georgia. This marks the first-ever extradition from the Eastern European nation to India. Garg, a 29-year-old proclaimed offender from Ambala district in Haryana, was brought back to India on Thursday after coordinated efforts involving the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Haryana Police, Interpol, and Georgian authorities.
Details of the Extradition
This extradition is also the 10th deportation or extradition secured by the Haryana STF in the year 2026. Investigators allege that Garg is the kingpin of a 53-member criminal gang implicated in murders, targeted killings, attempted murders, extortion, organized crime, and illegal arms operations across Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, and Chandigarh. Officials stated that Garg faces a total of 34 criminal cases in Haryana and Chandigarh. Before fleeing India, 23 cases had already been registered against him.
Continued Criminal Activities from Abroad
Authorities allege that Garg continued to operate his criminal network from overseas through associates, leading to 11 additional cases involving murder, attempted murder, extortion, and violations of the Arms Act. Among the gang's major crimes are the murder of BSP leader Harbilas in Narayangarh and several extortion-related firing incidents in Ambala and Yamunanagar.
Travel and Fraudulent Passport
Investigations revealed that Garg left India for the United Arab Emirates via Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on December 10, 2024. He later traveled to Georgia on January 26, 2025. During the probe, STF officials discovered that he had allegedly obtained a passport using a fraudulent residential address in Gurugram. The passport was subsequently canceled on February 4, 2025.
Legal Measures and Arrest
To secure his arrest, the Haryana STF initiated multiple legal measures, including the issuance of lookout circulars, an Interpol Red Notice, open-dated arrest warrants, and proceedings declaring him a proclaimed offender. Acting on intelligence inputs and coordination through Interpol channels, Georgian authorities located and arrested him. Following his arrest, India submitted a formal extradition request, which was approved after the completion of legal proceedings in Georgia.
Return to India
A Haryana Police escort team traveled to Georgia, took custody of the accused, and returned with him to Delhi. Officials described the extradition as a significant milestone in efforts to track down fugitives hiding overseas. They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that offenders face justice regardless of where they seek refuge.
