New Delhi
October 3, 2005

The Union Home Secretary, Shri V. K. Duggal and the US Ambassador in New Delhi, Dr. David C. Mulford signed here today the Protocol of Exchange of the Instrument of Ratification concerning Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in criminal matter between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the United States of America. The Treaty was ratified by the President of India on 1st July, 2005. The Treaty has come into force with the signing of the Protocol of Exchange. 

The Treaty will enhance the ability of the two countries to pursue their common objective of law enforcement of putting in place a legal mechanism to enable them to provide to each other assistance in connection with the investigation, prosecution, prevention and suppression of crime including those relating to terrorism, narcotics, trafficking, economic and organized crime.

The assistance under the Treaty shall include taking the testimony or statements of persons; providing documents, records and items of evidence; locating or identifying persons or items; serving documents, transferring persons in custody for testimony or other purposes; executing requests for searches and seizures, assistance in proceedings related to seizure and forfeiture of asset, restitution, collection of fines.

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties with 15 countries like United Kingdom, Canada, France, Switzerland, Russia, etc. are already in operation.