Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) | 03 Oct 2025
The Government of India has invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Singapore to ensure cooperation in the investigation into the death of singer Zubeen Garg, who died in Singapore.
- Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs): These are bilateral or multilateral agreements that enable countries to cooperate in criminal matters such as terrorism, trafficking, cybercrime, smuggling, and financial frauds.
- MLATs provide a structured and legally binding framework for investigation, evidence sharing, and prosecution, ensuring that criminals do not escape justice due to jurisdictional gaps.
- Significance: MLATs strengthen international cooperation, reciprocity, and speed in handling transnational crimes.
- India’s Approach: India provides Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) through bilateral/multilateral treaties, international conventions, or reciprocity.
- India has signed MLATs with 42 countries (as of 2019). In India the MLA requests are routed through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which acts as the Central Authority, with support from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) when required through diplomatic channels.
India’s International Conventions on Mutual Legal Assistance
- United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, 2000
- United Nations Convention Against Corruption, 2003
- United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988 (Vienna Convention)
- Hague Convention
- SAARC Convention
- Commonwealth Scheme (Harare Scheme)
| Read more: India and International Law: Part-1 |