West Bengal recorded the highest number of crimes committed by foreigners in India in 2023, with 73 cases, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. Delhi led among Union Territories with 38 such cases.
Nationally, a total of 239 crimes were registered against foreigners, marking a significant increase from 148 in 2022 and 88 in 2021. The majority of these crimes were related to violations of the Foreigners Act, constituting 151 incidents. Other offenses included cheating, theft, and causing hurt.
Bangladeshis were the most frequently accused among foreign nationals, involved in 88 of the 239 cases. Myanmar nationals were second with 43 cases, followed by Nepal (34), and Pakistan (18).
West Bengal’s cases predominantly involved violations of the Foreigners Act (43 cases), alongside instances of cheating (12), theft (8), and causing hurt (4). Delhi’s cases largely centered on violations of the Foreigners Act (24 cases) and cheating (8).
The NCRB data reveals a substantial rise in crimes involving foreigners across several states. Maharashtra saw an increase from 21 cases in 2022 to 34 in 2023, while Uttar Pradesh reported 24 cases compared to 14 the previous year. Rajasthan also experienced a rise, with 21 cases in 2023 versus 11 in 2022.
Regarding the types of crimes, cheating saw a notable increase nationally, rising from 38 cases in 2022 to 64 in 2023. Theft also increased, from 24 to 38 cases during the same period. Cases related to causing hurt remained relatively stable.
The report highlights that the increase in crimes by foreigners is not limited to specific states or types of offenses, indicating a broader trend across the country. The data is based on reported incidents and may not reflect the complete picture.
