FBI director on a 3-day India visit; meets CBI chief, top officials

New Delhi: The chief of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Christopher Wray, on Monday met the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chief Praveen Sood and other top officials to discuss key issues.

His visit comes amid the row over the allegations by Washington DC about the involvement of an official of the Government of India in a plot to kill pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

Wray, who is on a three-day visit to India, met Sood at the CBI headquarters on Monday afternoon and also interacted with other senior officers of the agency.

The meeting focused on issues such as extradition of suspects wanted by India, cyber-enabled financial crimes and strengthening the exchange of information on criminal matters, for improved coordination in combating transnational crimes.

“Both agencies recognised the challenges posed by organised crime networks, cyber-enabled financial crimes, ransomware threats, economic crimes and transnational crimes,” the CBI stated in a press release issued after the meeting between chiefs of the two organisations.

Both agencies agreed to look forward to future interactions and collaborative initiatives.

The FBI chief’s visit followed the US Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jonathan Finer’s tour to New Delhi last week.

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Wray is also expected to hold separate meetings with the heads of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau and Research & Analysis Wing, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and the Delhi Police headquarters during his three-day visit.

“The meeting focused on strengthening the exchange of information on criminal matters, for improved coordination in combating transnational crimes and sharing of expertise in the investigation of technology-enabled crimes. Both agencies recognised the challenges posed by organised crime networks, cyber-enabled financial crimes, ransomware threats, economic crimes and transnational crimes. The need to expedite the sharing of evidence and for closer assistance in bringing criminals and fugitives to face justice was deliberated. It was also discussed to exchange best practices of FBI Academy, Quantico and CBI Academy, Ghaziabad,” CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

“Director Wray’s visit signifies a step towards deepening cooperation and shared commitment to combat crime in all its manifestations in the spirit of international police cooperation. Both agencies agreed to look forward to future interactions and collaborative initiatives,” the spokesperson said.

Earlier, the US charged an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire for allegedly plotting to assassinate Pannun in New York City. As per the court documents filed by the US Justice Department, an unnamed Indian government official colluded with Gupta in the plot to kill Pannun.

Finer had informed his Indian interlocutors of the importance of holding accountable anyone found responsible for allegedly plotting to kill Pannun on American soil.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Parliament last week that India has set up an inquiry committee to look into inputs provided by the US in connection with the alleged plot because the matter has a bearing on national security.

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