A pact for ratification of the Bay of Bengal Initiative on Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Convention on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters will soon be signed by India after the Union Cabinet gave its nod for it.
A meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today gave its approval and designated the Ministry of Home Affairs as the Central Authority of the Convention.
The BIMSTEC comprises seven countries - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
The establishment of regional arrangements for mutual assistance in criminal matters will greatly contribute to more effective cooperation in the control of criminal activities, an official spokesperson said.
The Convention aims to extend widest measures of assistance to each other through mutual cooperation for enhancing capability and effectiveness of the member states in investigation and prosecution of crimes, including crimes related to terrorism, transnational organised crime, drug trafficking, money laundering and cyber crimes.
After signing and ratification of the Convention by India, the Instrument of Ratification will be submitted to the Secretary-General of BIMSTEC and the Convention shall come into force on the 30th day of the submission of the instrument.
