According to a circular issued by the top cop, the amount varies from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 for each arrest. Earlier, the maximum reward for catching any proclaimed offender was just Rs 500.

The department feels the incentive will increase the efficiency of police officers. “It is a special step to arrest proclaimed offenders who remain on the run. It is a good incentive for every officer who gathers intelligence about the hideouts of these criminals and then arrests them,” said Rajan Bhagat, public relations officer of the Delhi Police.

The move also comes as a welcome step for other states’ police. So far, personnel from other states didn’t get any reward on arresting a criminal declared proclaimed offender by a Delhi court. They can claim this reward now.

There are around 8,000 proclaimed offenders in Delhi. A police officer gets an out-of-turn promotion on arrest of at least 75 proclaimed offenders. The move will encourage officers who will now get good cash reward also.