In 2005, Shri Shivraj Patil, Hon’ble Minister of Home Affairs made a statement in Parliament that the Government of India intends to introduce a legislation to regulate the functioning of Private Detectives in India. This statement was also published in many newspapers. An emergent meeting of CEOs of Private Detective companies operating in various metros was convened to discuss the impact of the proposed legislation. 60 eminent CEOs participated in the conference held at the PHD Chambers of Commerce and Industry, New Delhi.

After much preliminary work, the Association of Private Detectives & Investigators or APDI was founded in June 2005 by leader professionals. The 13 “Founder Members” met with a goal to unify, represent and advance the professional private investigator in India.

On July 7, 2005, we received an invitation to meet Hon’ble Home Minister Shri Shivraj Patil to present our case for the workable implementation of the proposed bill to regulate the functioning of the Private Detectives. The Ministry of Home Affairs asked APDI to submit all documents regarding the process of Self Regulation being undertaken by the Association so that the matter can be discussed within the MoH. We also submitted a draft of the Bill that might be used to regulate those in our profession.

APDI has already formed chapters in New Delhi, Maharashtra, Punjab and Chandigarh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh (15 July 06). We propose to install chapters in every State in India. In case some states do not have adequate representation, we shall club a few together to form a Regional Chapter.

It followed a year of organizational meetings and National Conferences after which APDI became registered in Dec. 2006 under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860.

Currently APDI represents over 120 members. Membership in APDI has become an honor and privilege, a badge of professionalism recognized by the general public, the legal community and government agencies alike. The need of the hour is for all practitioners of this profession to rally together and to improve the standard of services they provide to their clients. There is need to perform our tasks in a professional, ethical and mature manner, and to lay down and implement a Code of Ethics that is indicative of our capabilities to run our business in a professional manner. There is now need for us to raise the bar for ourselves. It covers all areas of investigation, public sector and private sector, companies and individuals, corporate and domestic. Our goals are; to advance the investigation profession through educational programs and through aggressively advocating the needs of our profession in the government and state legislature; to promote & maintain the highest ethical practices in the profession; to bring about a spirit of cooperation, mutual trust and good will. If you need a Self regulated Private Detective Agency in India, we encourage you to search our Members Directory If you are already in the profession and wish to find a place in the Directory then Apply Now __________________________________________________________________