THE NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES ACT, 1985
Chapter VA
Forfeiture of Illegally Acquired Property [68A-68Z]
68A. Application.— (1) The provisions of this Chapter shall apply only to persons specified in sub-section (2).
(2) The persons referred to in sub-section (1) are the following, namely:—
(a)every person who has been convicted of an offence punishable under this Act with imprisonment for a term of ten years or more;
(b)every person who has been convicted of a similar offence by a competent court of criminal jurisdiction outside India;
(c)every person in respect of whom an order of detention has been made under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (46 of 1988), or under the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (J & K Act XXIII of 1988):
Provided that such order of detention has not been revoked on the report of the Advisory Board constituted under the said Acts or such order of detention has not been set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction;
(cc)every person who has been arrested or against whom a warrant or authorisation of arrest has been issued for the commission of an offence punishable under this Act with imprisonment for a term of ten years or more, and every person who has been arrested or against whom a warrant or authorisation of arrest has been issued for the commission of a similar offence under any corresponding law of any other country.
(d)every person who is a relative of a person referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) or clause (cc);
(e)every associate of a person referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) or clause (cc);
(f)any holder (hereafter in this clause referred to as the “present holder”) of any property which was at any time previously held by a person referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) or clause (cc); unless the present holder or, as the case may be, any one who held such property after such person and before the present holder, is or was a transferee in good faith for adequate consideration.
68B. Definitions.—
In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a)”Appellate Tribunal” means the Appellate Tribunal referred to in section 68N;
(b) “associate” in relation to a person whose property is liable to be forfeited under this Chapter, means—
(i)any individual who had been or is residing in the residential premises (including out-houses) of such person;
(ii)any individual who had been or is managing the affairs or keeping the accounts of such person;
(iii)any association of persons, body of individuals, partnership firm or private company within the meaning of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), of which such person had been or is a member, partner or director;
(iv)any individual who had been or is a member, partner or director of an association or persons, body of individuals, partnership firm or private company referred to in sub-clause (iii) at any time when such person had been or is a member, partner or director of such association, body, partnership firm or private company;
(v)any person, who had been or is managing the affairs, or keeping the accounts, of any association of persons, body of individuals, partnership firm or private company referred to in sub-clause (iii);
(vi)the trustee of any trust, where,—
(1)Â the trust has been created by such person; or
(2)Â the value of the assets contributed by such person (including the value of the assets, if any, contributed by him earlier) to the trust amounts on the date on which contribution is made, to not less than twenty per cent. of the value of the assets of the trust on that date;
(viii)where the competent authority, for reasons to be recorded in writing, considers that any properties of such person are held on his behalf by any other person, such other person;
(c)”competent authority” means an officer of the Central Government authorised by it under section 68D;
(d)”concealment” means the concealment or disguise of the nature, source, disposition, movement or ownership of property and includes the movement or conversion of such property by electronic transmission or by any other means;
(e)”freezing” means temporarily prohibiting the transfer, conversion, disposition or movement of property by an order issued under section 68F;
(f)”identifying” includes establishment of proof that the property was derived from, or used in, the illicit traffic;
(g)”illegally acquired property”, in relation to any person to whom this Chapter applies, means,—
(i)any property acquired by such person, whether before or after the commencement of this Chapter, wholly or partly out of or by means of any income, earnings or assets derived or obtained from or attributable to the contravention of any provisions of this Act or the equivalent value of such property; or
(ii)any property acquired by such property or the equivalent value of such property; or, whether before or after the commencement of this Chapter, for a consideration, or by any means wholly or partly traceable to any property referred to in sub-clause (i) or the income or earning from such property or the equivalent value of such property;
(iii)any property acquired by such person, whether before or after the commencement of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Act, 2014, wholly or partly out of or by means of any income, earnings or assets the source of which cannot be proved, or the equivalent value of such property;
and includes—
(A)any property held by such person which would have been, in relation to any previous holder thereof, illegally acquired property under this clause if such previous holder had not ceased to hold it, unless such person or any other person who held the property at any time after such previous holder or, where there are two or more such previous holders, the last of such previous holders is or was a transferee in good faith for adequate consideration;
(B)any property acquired by such person, whether before or after the commencement of this Chapter, for a consideration, or by any means, wholly or partly traceable to any property falling under item (A), or the income or earnings therefrom;
(h)”property” means any property or assets of every description, whether corporeal or incorporeal, movable or immovable, tangible or intangible, wherever located and includes deeds and instruments evidencing title to, or interest in, such property or assets;
(i)”relative” means—
(1)Â spouse of the person;
(2)Â brother or sister of the person;
(3)Â brother or sister of the spouse of the person;
(4)Â any lineal ascendant or descendant of the person;
(5)Â any lineal ascendant or descendant of the spouse of the person;
(6)Â spouse of a person referred to in sub-clause (2), sub-clause (3), sub-clause (4), or sub-clause (5);
(7)Â any lineal descendant of a person referred to in sub-clause (2) or sub-clause (3);
(j)”tracing” means determining the nature, source, disposition, movement, title or ownership of property;
(k)”trust” includes any other legal obligation.
68C. Prohibition of holding illegally acquired property.—
(1)Â As from the commencement of this Chapter, it shall not be lawful for any person to whom this Chapter applies to hold any illegally acquired property either by himself or through any other person on his behalf.
(2)Â Where any person holds any illegally acquired property in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1), such property shall be liable to be forfeited to the Central Government in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter:
Provided that no property shall be forfeited under this Chapter if such property was acquired, by a person to whom this Act applies, before a period of six years from the date he was arrested or against whom a warrant or authorisation of arrest has been issued for the commission of an offence punishable under this Act or from the date the order or detention was issued, as the case may be.
68D. Competent Authority.—
(1)Â The Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, authorise any Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Central Excise or Commissioner of Income-tax or any other officer of the Central Government of equivalent rank to perform the functions of the competent authority under this Chapter.
(2)Â The competent authorities shall perform their functions in respect of such persons or classes of persons as the Central Government may, by order, direct.
68E. Identifying illegally acquired property.—
(1)Â Every offence empowered under section 53 and every officer-in-charge of a police station shall, or receipt of information is satisfied that any person to whom this Chapter applies holds any illegally acquired property, he may, after recording reasons for doing so, proceed to lake all steps necessary for tracing and identifying such property.
(2)Â The steps referred to in sub-section (1) may include any inquiry, investigation or survey in respect of any person, place, property, assets, documents, books of account in any bank or public financial institution or any other relevant matters.
(3)
Any inquiry, investigation or survey referred to in sub-section (2) shall be carried out by an officer mentioned in sub-section (1) in accordance with such directions or guidelines as the competent authority may make or issue in this behalf.
68F. Seizure or freezing of illegally acquired property.—
(1)Â Where any officer conducting an inquiry or investigation under section 68E has reason to believe that any property in relation to which such inquiry or investigation is being conducted is an illegally acquired property and such property is likely to be concealed, transferred or dealt with in any manner which will result in frustrating any proceeding relating to forfeiture of such property under this Chapter, he may make an order for seizing such property and where it is not practicable to seize such property, he may make an order that such property shall not be transferred or otherwise dealt with, except with the prior permission of the officer making such order, or of the competent authority and a copy of such order shall be served on the person concerned:
Provided that the competent authority shall be duly informed of any order made under this sub-section and a copy of such an order shall be sent to the competent authority within forty-eight hours of its being made.
(2)Â Any order made under sub-section (1) shall have no effect unless the said order is confirmed by an order of the competent authority within a period of thirty days of its being made.
Explanation:— For the purposes of this section, “transfer of property” means any disposition, conveyance, assignment, settlement, delivery, payment or other alienation of property and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes—
(a)the creation of a trust in property:
(b)the grant or creation of any lease, mortgage, charge, easement, licence, power, partnership or interest in property;
(c)the exercise of a power of appointment of property vested in any person, not the owner of the property, to determine its disposition in favour of any person other than the done of the power; and
(d)any transaction entered into by any person with intent thereby to diminish directly or indirectly the value of his own property and to increase the value of the property of any other person.
68G. Management of properties seized or forfeited under this Chapter.—
(1)Â The Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, appoint as many of its officers (not below the rank of a Joint Secretary to the Government) as it thinks fit, to perform the functions of an Administrator.
(2)Â The Administrator appointed under sub-section (1) shall receive and manage the property in relation to which an order has been made under subsection (1) of section 68F or under section 68-I in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.
(3)Â The Administrator shall also take such measures, as the Central Government may direct, to dispose of the property which is forfeited to the Central Government.
68H. Notice of forfeiture of property.—
(1)Â If, having regard to the value of the properties held by any person to whom this Chapter applies, either by himself or through any other person on his behalf, his known sources of income, earnings or assets, and any other information or material available to it as a result of a report from any officer making an investigation under section 68E or otherwise, the competent authority has reason to believe (the reasons for such belief to be recorded in writing) that all or any of such properties are illegally acquired properties, it may serve a notice upon such person (hereinafter referred to as the person affected) calling upon him within a period of thirty days specified in the notice to indicate the sources of his income, earnings or assets, out of which or by means of which he has acquired such property, the evidence on which he relies and other relevant information and particulars, and to show cause why all or any of such properties, as the case may be, should not be declared to be illegally acquired properties and forfeited to the Central Government under this Chapter.
(2)
Where a notice under sub-section (1) to any person specifies any property as being held on behalf of such person by any other person, a copy of the notice shall also be served upon such other person:
Provided that no notice for forfeiture shall be served upon any person referred to in clause (cc) of sub-section (2) of section 68A or relative of a person referred to in that clause or associate of a person referred to in that clause or holder of any property which was at any time previously held by a person referred to in that clause.
Explanation:— For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that in a case where the provisions of section 68J are applicable, no notice under this section shall be invalid merely on the ground that it fails to mention the evidence relied upon or it fails to establish a direct nexus between the property sought to be forfeited and any activity in contravention of the provisions of this Act.
68I. Forfeiture of property in certain cases.—
(1)Â The competent authority may, after considering the explanation, if any, to the show cause notice issued under section 68H, and the materials available before it and after giving to the person affected (and in a case where the person affected holds any property specified in the notice through any other person, to such other person also) a reasonable opportunity of being heard, by order, record a finding whether all or any of the properties in question are illegally acquired properties:
Provided that if the person affected (and in a case where the person affected holds any property specified in the notice through any other person such other person also) does not appear before the competent authority or represent his case before it within a period of thirty days specified in the show cause notice, the competent authority may proceed to record a finding under this sub-section ex parte on the basis of evidence available before it.
(2)Â Where the competent authority is satisfied that some of the properties referred to in the show cause notice are illegally acquired properties but is not able to identify specifically such properties, then, it shall be lawful for the competent authority to specify the properties which, to the best of its judgment, are illegally acquired properties and record a finding accordingly under subsection (1).
(3)Â Where the competent authority records a finding under this section to the effect that any property is illegally acquired property, it shall declare that such property shall, subject to the provisions of this Chapter stand forfeited to the Central Government free from all encumbrances:
Provided that no illegally acquired property of any person who is referred to in clause (cc) of sub-section (2) of section 68A or relative of a person referred to in that clause or associate of a person referred to in that clause or holder of any property which was at any time previously held by a person referred to in that clause shall stand forefeited.
(4)Â Where any shares in a company stand forfeited to the Central Government under this Chapter, then, the company shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) or the article of association of the company, forthwith register the Central Government as the transferee of such shares.
68J. Burden of proof.—
In any proceedings under this Chapter, the burden of proving that any property specified in the notice served under section 68H is not illegally acquired property shall be on the person affected.
68K. Fine in lieu of forfeiture.—
(1)Â Where the competent authority makes a declaration that any property stands forfeited to the Central Government under section 68-I and it is a case where the source of only a part of the illegally acquired property has not been proved to the satisfaction of the competent authority, it shall make an order giving an option to the person affected to pay, in lieu of forfeiture, a fine equal to the market value of such part.
(2)Â Before making an order imposing a fine under sub-section (1), the person affected shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(3)Â Where the person affected pays the fine due under sub-section (1), within such time as may be allowed in that behalf, the competent authority may, by order revoke the declaration of forfeiture under section 68-I and thereupon such property shall stand released.
68L. Procedure in relation to certain trust properties.—
In the case of any person referred to in sub-clause (vi) of clause (b) of section 68B, if the competent authority, on the basis of the information and materials available to it, has reason to believe (the reasons for such belief to be recorded in writing) that any property held in trust is illegally acquired property, it may serve a notice upon the author of the trust or as the case may be, the contributor of the assets out of or by means of which such property was acquired by the trust and the trustees, calling upon them within a period of thirty days specified in the notice, to explain the source of money or other assets out of or by means of which such property was acquired or, as the case may be, the source of money or other assets which were contributed to the trust for acquiring such property and thereupon such notice shall be deemed to be a notice served under section 68H and all the other provisions of this Chapter shall apply accordingly.
Explanation:— For the purposes of this section “illegally acquired property”, in relation to any property held in trust, includes—
(i)any property which if it had continued to be held by the author of the trust or the contributor of such property to the trust would have been illegally acquired property in relation to such author or contributor;
(ii)any property acquired by the trust out of any contributions made by any person which would have been illegally acquired property in relation to such person had such person acquired such property out of such contributions.
68M. Certain transfers to be null and void.—
Where after the making of an order under sub-section (1) of section 68F or the issue of a notice under section 68H or under section 68L, any property referred to in the said order or notice is transferred by any mode whatsoever such transfer shall, for the purposes of the proceedings under the Chapter, be ignored and if such property is subsequently forfeited to the Central Government under section 68-I, then, the transfer of such property shall be deemed to be null and void.
68N. Constitution of Appellate Tribunal.—
The Appellate Tribunal constituted under sub-section (1) of section 12 of the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976 shall be the Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders made under section 68F, section 68-I, sub-section (1) of section 68K or section 68L.
68O. Appeals.—
(1)Â Any officer referred to in sub-section (1) of section 68E or any person aggrieved by an order of the competent authority made under section 68F, section 68-I, sub-section (I) of section 68K or section 68L, may, within forty-five days from the date on which the order is served on him, prefer an appeal to the Appellate Tribunal:
Provided that the Appellate Tribunal may entertain an appeal after the said period of forty-five days, but not after sixty days, from the date aforesaid if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.
(2)Â On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), the Appellate Tribunal may, after giving an opportunity to the appellant to be heard, if he so desires, and after making such further inquiry as it deems fit, confirm or set aside the order appealed against.
(3)Â The powers and functions of the Appellate Tribunal may be exercised and discharged by Benches consisting of three members and constituted by the Chairman of the Appellate Tribunal.
(4)Â Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3), where the Chairman considers it necessary so to do for the expeditious disposal of appeals under this section, he may constitute a Bench of two members and a Bench so constituted may exercise and discharge the powers and functions of the Appellate Tribunal:
Provided that if the members of a Bench so constituted differ on any point or points, they shall state the point or points on which they differ and refer the same to a third member (to be specified by the Chairman) for hearing of such point or points and such point or points shall be decided according to the opinion of that member.
Provided further that if the office of the Chairman is vacant by reason of his death, resignation or otherwise, or if the Chairman is unable to discharge his duties owing to absence, illness or any other cause, the Central Government may, by order, nominate any member to act as the Chairman until a new Chairman is appointed and assumes charge or, as the case may be, resumes his duties.
(5)Â The Appellate Tribunal may regulate its own procedure.
(6)Â On application to the Appellate Tribunal and on payment of the prescribed fee, the Tribunal may allow a party to any appeal or any person authorised in this behalf by such party to inspect at any time during office hours, any relevant records and registers of the Tribunal and obtain a certified copy of any part thereof.
68P. Notice or order not to be invalid for error in description.—
No notice issued or served, no declaration made, and no order passed under this Chapter shall be deemed to be invalid by reason of any error in the description of the property or person mentioned therein if such property or person is identifiable from the description so mentioned.
68Q. Bar of jurisdiction.—
No order passed or declaration made under this Chapter shall be appealable except as provided therein and no civil court shall have jurisdiction in respect of any matter which the Appellate Tribunal or any competent authority is empowered by or under this Chapter to determine, and no injunction shall be granted by any court or other authority in respect of any action taken or to be taken in pursuance of any power conferred by or under this Chapter.
68R. Competent Authority and Appellate Tribunal to have powers of civil court.—
The competent authority and the Appellate Tribunal shall have all the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), in respect of the following matters, namely:—
(a)summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
(b)requiring the discovery and production of documents;
(c)receiving evidence on affidavits;
(d)requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;
(e)issuing commissions for examination of witnesses or documents;
(f)any other matter which may be prescribed.
68S. Information to competent authority.—
(1)Â Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, the competent authority shall have power to require any officer or authority of the Central Government or a State Government or a local authority to furnish information in relation to such persons, points or matters as in the opinion of the competent authority will be useful for, or relevant to, the purposes of this Chapter.
(2)Â Every officer referred to in section 68T may furnish suo motu any information available with him to the competent authority if in the opinion of the officer such information will be useful to the competent authority for the purposes of this Chapter.
68T. Certain officers to assist Administrator, competent authority and Appellate Tribunal.
For the purposes of any proceedings under this Chapter, the following officers are hereby empowered and required to assist the Administrator appointed under section
68G, competent authority and the Appellate Tribunal, namely:—
(a)officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau;
(b)officers of the Customs Department;
(c)officers of the Central Excise Department;
(d)officers of the Income-tax Department;
(e)officers of Enforcement appointed under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (46 of 1973);
(f)officers of Police;
(g)officers of the Narcotics Department;
(h)officers of the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau;
(i)officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence;
(j)such other officers of the Central or State Government as are specified by the Central Government in this behalf by notification in the Official Gazette.
68U. Power to take possession.—
(1)Â Where any property has been declared to be forfeited to the Central Government under this Chapter, or where the person affected has failed to pay the fine due under sub-section (1) of section 68K within the time allowed therefore under sub-section (3) of that section, the competent authority may order the person affected as well as any other person who may be in possession of the property to surrender or deliver possession thereof to the Administrator appointed under section 68G or to any person duly authorised by him in this behalf within thirty days of the service of the order.
(2)Â If any person refuses or fails to comply with an order made under sub-section (1), the Administrator may take possession of the property and may for that purpose use such force as may be necessary.
(3)Â Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the Administrator may, for the purpose of taking possession of any property referred to in sub-section (1) requisition the service of any police officer to assist him and it shall be the duty of such officer to comply with such requisition.
68V. Rectification of mistakes.—
With a view to rectifying any mistakes apparent from record, the competent authority or the Appellate Tribunal, as the case may be, may amend any order made by it within a period of one year from the date of the order:
Provided that if any such amendment is likely to affect any person prejudicially, it shall not be made without giving to such person a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
68W. Findings under other laws not conclusive for proceedings under this Chapter.—
No finding of any officer or authority under any other law shall be conclusive for the purposes of any proceedings under this Chapter.
68X. Service of notices and orders.—
Any notice or order issued or made under this Chapter shall be served—
(a)by tendering the notice or order or sending it by registered post to the person for whom it is intended or to his agent;
(b)if the notice or order cannot be served in the manner provided in clause (a), by affixing it on a conspicuous place in the property in relation to which the notice or order is issued or made or on some conspicuous part of the premises in which the person for whom it is intended is known to have last resided or carried on business or personally worked for gain.
68Y. Punishment for acquiring property in relation to which proceedings have been taken, under this Chapter.—
Any person who knowingly acquired, by any mode whatsoever, any property in relation to which proceedings are pending under this Chapter shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees.
68Z. Release of property in certain cases.—
(1)Â Where the detention order of a detenu is set aside or withdrawn, properties seized or frozen under this Chapter shall stand released.
(2)Â Where any person referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (cc) of sub-section (2) of section 68A has been acquitted or discharged from the charges under this Act or any other corresponding law of any other country and the acquittal was not appealed against or when appealed against, the appeal was disposed of as a consequence of which such property could not be forfeited or warrant of arrest or authorisation of arrest issued against such person has been withdrawn, then, property seized or frozen under this Chapter shall stand released.
