Lok Sabha Question No. 4713 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-28
Subject: Indian Inmates in Foreign Prisons
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 4713

ANSWERED ON - 28/03/2025

## INDIAN INMATES IN FOREIGN PRISONS

## 4713. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

(a) whether the highest number of indian inmates in foreign prisons are in the Gulf countries;

(b) if so, the details of the indian inmates imprisoned during each of the last five years;

(c)   whether the indian inmates in the prisons of UAE are allowed complete rest of their term in Indian prisons as per the agreement signed with UAE by India;

(d) if so, the reasons for which no indian prisoner has so far benefitted from this agreement;

(e) whether the Government proposes to take stringent measures for the compliance of the agreement signed between the two countries; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) & (b) As per the information available with the Ministry, the number of Indian prisoners, including under-trials, in foreign prisons at present is 10,152. Country-wise list is placed at Annexure A.

However, due to strong privacy laws prevailing in many countries, the local  authorities   do   not   share   information   on   prisoners   unless   the person concerned consents to the disclosure of such information. Even   countries   which   share   information   do   not   generally   provide detailed   information   about   the   foreign   nationals   imprisoned.   The number of Indians in foreign jails is a dynamic figure as there are a number of arrests and releases every week.

(c) to (f) India and UAE have signed a Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners agreement in 2011, which provides for transfer of sentenced Indian prisoners in UAE, subject to the term and conditions stipulated in the agreement.   Both   countries   have   established   bilateral   mechanisms under   which   discussions   on   transfer   of   sentenced   prisoners   take place.   Such   decisions   are   based   on   the   choices   of   concerned Individuals.

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## Annexure A

|   Sr. No. | Country           |   Total number of Indians under trail and convicted in Foreign Jails at present |
|-----------|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Afghanistan       |                                                                               8 |
|         2 | Angola            |                                                                               2 |
|         3 | Argentina         |                                                                               1 |
|         4 | Armenia           |                                                                              39 |
|         5 | Australia         |                                                                              27 |
|         6 | Azerbaijan        |                                                                              10 |
|         7 | Bahrain           |                                                                             181 |
|         8 | Bangladesh        |                                                                               4 |
|         9 | Belarus           |                                                                               9 |
|        10 | Belgium           |                                                                               1 |
|        11 | Bhutan            |                                                                              69 |
|        12 | Brunei Darussalam |                                                                               6 |
|        13 | Cambodia          |                                                                              22 |
|        14 | Canada            |                                                                              23 |
|        15 | Chile             |                                                                               1 |
|        16 | China             |                                                                             173 |
|        17 | Congo             |                                                                               5 |
|        18 | Cote d' Ivoire    |                                                                              14 |
|        19 | Croatia           |                                                                               3 |
|        20 | Cuba              |                                                                               2 |
|        21 | Cyprus            |                                                                              21 |
|        22 | Denmark           |                                                                               1 |
|        23 | Egypt             |                                                                               1 |
|        24 | Ethiopia          |                                                                               4 |
|        25 | France            |                                                                              45 |
|        26 | Georgia           |                                                                              45 |
|        27 | Germany           |                                                                              25 |
|        28 | Guatemala         |                                                                               2 |
|        29 | Guinea            |                                                                               2 |

|   30 | Indonesia       |   21 |
|------|-----------------|------|
|   31 | Iran            |   18 |
|   32 | Iraq            |    1 |
|   33 | Ireland         |    5 |
|   34 | Israel          |    4 |
|   35 | Italy           |  168 |
|   36 | Jamaica         |    1 |
|   37 | Japan           |    6 |
|   38 | Jordan          |   28 |
|   39 | Kazakhstan      |    3 |
|   40 | Kenya           |    4 |
|   41 | Kuwait          |  387 |
|   42 | Kyrgyzstan      |    4 |
|   43 | Laos            |    6 |
|   44 | Lebanon         |    2 |
|   45 | Lithuania       |    1 |
|   46 | Madagascar      |    1 |
|   47 | Malawi          |    1 |
|   48 | Malaysia        |  338 |
|   49 | Maldives        |   10 |
|   50 | Mali            |    1 |
|   51 | Malta           |    5 |
|   52 | Mauritius       |   10 |
|   53 | Mexico          |    1 |
|   54 | Morocco         |    2 |
|   55 | Mozambique      |    5 |
|   56 | Myanmar         |   27 |
|   57 | Nepal           | 1317 |
|   58 | Nigeria         |    3 |
|   59 | North Macedonia |    5 |
|   60 | Oman            |  148 |
|   61 | Pakistan        |  266 |
|   62 | Philippines     |   44 |
|   63 | Poland          |    7 |
|   64 | Qatar           |  611 |

| 65   | Republic of Korea   |     4 |
|------|---------------------|-------|
| 66   | Russia              |    27 |
| 67   | Rwanda              |     3 |
| 68   | Saudi Arabia        |  2633 |
| 69   | Senegal             |     5 |
| 70   | Serbia              |     4 |
| 71   | Singapore           |    92 |
| 72   | South Africa        |     8 |
| 73   | Spain               |    34 |
| 74   | Sri Lanka           |    98 |
| 75   | Switzerland         |     1 |
| 76   | Tajikistan          |     1 |
| 77   | Thailand            |    37 |
| 78   | Trinidad and Tobago |     1 |
| 79   | Turkiye             |     3 |
| 80   | UAE                 |  2518 |
| 81   | Uganda              |    11 |
| 82   | United Kingdom      |   288 |
| 83   | USA                 |   169 |
| 84   | Uzbekistan          |     3 |
| 85   | Vietnam             |     4 |
| 86   | Zimbabwe            |     1 |
|      |                     | 10152 |

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