India and Poland have signed a mutual legal assistance treaty on criminal matters (MLAT) to help both countries in investigation and prosecution of crimes, including those related to terrorism. The Union cabinet had, last December, approved the proposal. However, the signing of the formal agreement was delayed due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis, officials added.

For India, special secretary (internal security), Ministry of Home Affairs, VSK Kaumudi, signed the cooperation agreement while for Poland, its ambassador to India, Adam Burakowski, was the signatory. Poland became the 45th country with which New Delhi has signed an MLAT on criminal matters, other others being Australia, Canada, France, Iran, Israel, Russia, Singapore, Ukraine, the UK and the US.

“The treaty aims to enhance the effectiveness of both countries in investigation and prosecution of crime, through cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters,” an official said.

MHA is the nodal ministry for concluding MLATs in criminal matters which are designed to facilitate the widest measures of mutual assistance in investigation, prosecution and prevention of crime, service of summons and other judicial documents, execution of warrants and other judicial commissions and tracing, restraint, forfeiture or confiscation of proceeds and instruments of crime.

Source: The Economic Times