THE PREVENTION OF MONEY-LAUNDERING ACT, 2002

(15 of 2003)

[17th January, 2003]

An Act to prevent money-laundering and to provide for confiscation of property derived from, or
involved in, money-laundering and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

WHEREAS the Political Declaration and Global Programme of Action,

annexed to the resolution S-17/2 was adopted by the General Assembly of the
United Nations at its seventeenth special session on the twenty-third day of
February, 1990;

AND WHEREAS the Political Declaration adopted by the Special Session of

the United Nations General Assembly held on 8th to 10th June, 1998 calls upon
the Member States to adopt national money-laundering legislation and programme;

AND WHEREAS it is considered necessary to implement the aforesaid

resolution and the Declaration;

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fifty-third Year of the Republic of India as

follows:-

CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY

1. Short title, extent and commencement.-(l) This Act may be called the
Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002.

(2) It extends to the whole of India.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, and different dates may be appointed
for different provisions of this Act and any reference in any such provision to the
commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the coming into
force of that provision.

2.Definitions.-(l) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) "Adjudicating Authority" means an Adjudicating Authority appointed

under sub-section (1) of section 6;
(b) "Appellate Tribunal" means the Appellate Tribunal established under
section 25;

(c) "Assistant Director" means an Assistant Director appointed under sub-

section (1) of section 49;

(d) "attachment" means prohibition of transfer, conversion, disposition or

movement of property by an order issued under Chapter III;

(da) "authorised person" means an authorised person as defined in clause (c)

of section 2 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999);

(e) "banking company" means a banking company or a co-operative bank to

which the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949) applies and
includes any bank or banking institution referred to in section 51 of that
Act;

(f) "Bench" means a Bench of the Appellate Tribunal;

(fa) "beneficial owner" means an individual who ultimately owns or controls

a client of a reporting entity or the person on whose behalf a transaction
is being conducted and includes a person who exercises ultimate
effective control over a juridical person;

(g) "Chairperson" means the Chairperson of the Appellate Tribunal;

(h) "chit fund company" means a company managing, conducting or

supervising, as foreman, agent or in any other capacity, chits as
defined in section 2 of the Chit Funds Act, 1982 (40 of 1982);

(ha) "client" means a person who is engaged in a financial transaction or

activity with a reporting entity and includes a person on whose behalf the
person who engaged in the transaction or activity, is acting;

(i) "co-operative bank" shall have the same meaning as assinged to it in

clause (dd) of section 2 of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee
Corporation Act, 1961 (47 of 1961);

(ia)"corresponding law" means any law of any foreign country

corresponding to any of the provisions of this Act or dealing with
offences in that country corresponding to any of the scheduled offences;

(ib) "dealer" has the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (b) of section 2
 of the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956 (74 of 1956);
(j) "Deputy Director" means a Deputy Director appointed under
sub-section (1) of section 49;

(k) "Director" or "Additional Director" or "Joint Director" means a Director

or Additional Director or Joint Director, as the case may be, appointed
under sub-section (1) of section 49;

(l) "financial institution" means a financial institution as defined in clause

(c) of section 45-1 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) and
includes a chit fund company, a housing finance institution, an authorised
person, a payment system operator, a non- banking financial company
and the Department of Posts in the Government of India;
(m) "housing finance institution" shall have the meaning as assigned to it
in clause (d) of section 2 of the National Housing Bank Act, 1987 (53 of
1987);
(n) "intermediary" means,-

(i) a stock-broker, sub-broker share transfer agent, banker to an

issue, trustee to a trust deed, registrar to an issue, merchant banker,
underwriter, portfolio manager, investment adviser or any other
intermediary associated with securities market and registered
under section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India
Act, 1992 (15 of 1992); or

(ii) an association recognised or registered under the Forward

Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1952 (74 of 1952) or any member of
such association; or

(iii) intermediary registered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and

Development Authority; or

(iv) a recognised stock exchange referred to in clause (f) of section

2 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956);

(na) "investigation" includes all the proceedings under this Act conducted by
the Director or by an authority authorised by the Central Government
under this Act for the collection of evidence;

(o) "Member" means a Member of the Appellate Tribunal and includes the
Chairperson;
(p) "money-laundering" has the meaning assigned to it in section 3;

(q) "non-banking financial company" shall have the same meaning as

assigned to it in clause (f) of section 45-1 of the Reserve Bank of India
Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) ;

(r) "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette;

(ra) "offence of cross border implications", means-

(i) any conduct by a person at a place outside India which

constitutes an offence at that place and which would have constituted
an offence specified in Part A, Part B or Part C of the Schedule, had
it been committed in India and if such person transfers in any manner
the proceeds of such conduct or part thereof to India; or

(ii) any offence specified in Part A, Part B or Part C of the

Schedule which has been committed in India and the proceeds of
crime, or part thereof have been transferred to a place outside India or
any attempt has been made to transfer the proceeds of crime, or part
thereof from India to a place outside India.

Explanation.-Nothing contained in this clause shall adversely affect

any investigation, enquiry, trial or proceeding before any authority in
respect of the offences specified in Part A or Part B of the Schedule
to the Act before the commencement of the Prevention of Money-
laundering (Amendment) Act, 2009.

(rb) "payment system" means a system that enables payment to be effected

between a payer and a beneficiary, involving clearing, payment or
settlement service or all of them.

Explanation.-For the purposes of this clause, "payment system"

includes the systems enabling credit card operations, debit card
operations, smart card operations, money transfer operations or
similar operations;

(rc) "payment system operator" means a person who operates a payment

system and such person includes his overseas principal.
Explanation.-For the purposes of this clause, "overseas principal"
means,-

(A) in the case of a person, being an individual, such

 individual residing outside India, who owns or controls or
manages, directly or indirectly, the activities or functions of
payment system in India;

(B) in the case of a Hindu undivided family, Karta of such

Hindu undivided family residing outside India who owns or
controls or manages, directly or indirectly, the activities or
functions of payment system in India;

(C) in the case of a company, a firm, an association of

persons, a body of individuals, an artificial juridical person,
whether incorporated or not, such company, firm, association of
persons, body of individuals, artificial juridical person
incorporated or registered outside India or existing as such and
which owns or controls or manages, directly or indirectly, the
activities or functions of payment system in India;

(s) "person" includes;-

(i) an individual,
(ii) a Hindu undivided family,
(iii) a company,
(iv) a firm,
(v) an association of persons or a body of individuals, whether
incorporated or not,
(vi) every artificial juridical person, not falling within any of the
preceding sub-clauses, and
(vii) any agency, office or branch owned or controlled by any of the
above persons mentioned in the preceding sub-clauses;

(sa) "person carrying on designated business or profession" means,-

(i) a person carrying on activities for playing games of chance for

cash or kind, and includes such activities associated with
casino;
(ii) a Registrar or Sub-Registrar appointed under section 6 of the
Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1908) as may be notified by the
Central Government;
(iii) real estate agent, as may be notified by the Central
Government;
(iv) dealer in precious metals, precious stones and other high value
goods, as may be notified by the Central Government;
(v) person engaged in safekeeping and administration of cash and
liquid securities on behalf of other persons, as may be notified
 by the Central Government; or
(vi) person carrying on such other activities as the Central
Government may, by notification, so designate, from time-to-
time;

(sb) "precious metal" means gold, silver, platinum, palladium or rhodium or

such other metal as may be notified by the Central Government;

(sc) "precious stone" means diamond, emerald, ruby, sapphire or any such
other stone as may be notified by the Central Government;

(t) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(u) "proceeds of crime" means any property derived or obtained,

directly or indirectly, by any person as a result of criminal activity
relating to a scheduled offence or the value of any such property;

(v) "property" means any property or assets of every description,

whether corporeal or incorporeal, movable or immovable, tangible or
intangible and includes deeds and instruments evidencing title to, or
interest in, such property or assets, wherever located;

Explanation.-For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that the term

"property" includes property of any kind used in the commission of an
offence under this Act or any of the scheduled offences;

(va)"real estate agent" means a real estate agent as defined in clause (88) of
section 65 of the Finance Act, 1994;

(w) "records" include the records maintained in the form of books or stored
in a computer or such other form as may be prescribed;

(wa) "reporting entity" means a banking company, financial institution,

intermediary or a person carrying on a designated business or
profession:

(x) “Scheduled” means the Schedule to this Act;

(y) "scheduled offence" means-

(i) the offences specified under Part A of the Schedule; or

(ii) the offences specified under Part B of the Schedule if the total
value involved in such offences is thirty lakh rupees or more; or
 (iii) the offences specified under Part C of the Schedule;

(z) “Special Court” means a Court of Session designated as Special Court

under sub-section (1) of section 43;

(za) "transfer" includes sale, purchase, mortgage, pledge, gift, loan or any
other form of transfer of right, title, possession or lien;

(zb) "value" means the fair market value of any property on the date of its
acquisition by any person, or if such date cannot be determined, the
date on which such property is possessed by such person.

(2) Any reference, in this Act or the Schedule, to any enactment or any provision
thereof shall, in relation to an area in which such enactment or such provision is
not in force, be construed as a reference to the corresponding law or the relevant
provisions of the corresponding law, if any, in force in that area.
 CHAPTER II
OFFENCE OF MONEY-LAUNDERING

3. Offence of money-Laundering.-Whosoever directly or indirectly

attempts to indulge or knowingly assists or knowingly is a party or is actually
involved in any process or activity connected proceeds of crime including its
concealment, possession, acquisition or use and projecting or claiming it as
untainted property shall be guilty of offence of money-laundering.

4. Punishment for money-Laundering.-Whoever commits the offence of

money-laundering shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term
which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to seven years and
shall also be liable to fine:

Provided that where the proceeds of crime involved in money-laundering

relates to any offence specified under paragraph 2 of Part A of the Schedule, the
provisions of this section shall have effect as if for the words "which may extend
to seven years", the words "which may extend to ten years" had been substituted.
 CHAPTER III
ATTACHMENT, ADJUDICATION AND CONFISCATION

5. Attachment of property involved in money-Laundering.- (1) Where

the Director or any other officer not below the rank of Deputy Director authorised
by the Director for the purposes of this section, has reason to believe (the reason
for such belief to be recorded in writing), on the basis of material in his possession,
that-

(a) any person is in possession of any proceeds of crime; and

(b) such proceeds of crime are likely to be concealed, transferred or dealt

with in any manner which may result in frustrating any proceedings relating
to confiscation of such proceeds of crime under this Chapter, he may, by
order in writing, provisionally attach such property for a period not
exceeding one hundred and eighty days from the date of the order, in such
manner as may be prescribed:

Provided that no such order of attachment shall be made unless, in relation

to the scheduled offence, a report has been forwarded to a Magistrate under section
173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), or a complaint has been
filed by a person authorised to investigate the offence mentioned in that Schedule,
before a Magistrate or court for taking cognizance of the scheduled offence, as the
case may be, or a similar report or complaint has been made or filed under the
corresponding law of any other country:

Provided further that, notwithstanding anything contained in clause (b), any

property of any person may be attached under this section if the Director or any
other officer not below the rank of Deputy Director authorised by him for the
purposes of this section has reason to believe (the reasons for such belief to be
recorded in writing), on the basis of material in his possession, that if such
property involved in money-laundering is not attached immediately under this
Chapter, the non-attachment of the property is likely to frustrate any proceeding
under this Act.

(2) The Director, or any other officer not below the rank of Deputy Director,
shall, immediately after attachment under sub-section (1), forward a copy of the
order, along with the material in his possession, referred to in that sub-section, to
the Adjudicating Authority, in a sealed envelope, in the manner as may be
prescribed and such Adjudicating Authority shall keep such order and material for
such period as may be prescribed.
 (3) Every order of attachment made under sub-section (1) shall cease to have
effect after the expiry of the period specified in that sub-section or on the date of
an order made under sub-section (2) of section 8, whichever is earlier.

(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the person interested in the
enjoyment of the immovable property attached under sub-section (1) from such
enjoyment

Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-section “person interested”, in

relation to any immovable property, includes all persons claiming or entitled to
claim any interest in the property.

(5) The Director or any other officer who provisionally attaches any
property under sub-section (1) shall, within a period of thirty days from such
attachment, file a complaint stating the facts of such attachment before the
Adjudicating Authority.

6. Adjudicating Authorities, composition, powers, etc.-(l) The Central

Government shall, by notification, appoint an Adjudicating Authority to exercise
jurisdiction, powers and authority conferred by or under this Act.

(2) An Adjudicating Authority shall consist of a Chairperson and two other

Members:

Provided that one Member each shall be a person having experience in the
field of law, administration, finance or accountancy.

(3) A person shall, however, not be qualified for appointment as Member of

an Adjudicating Authority,-

(a) in the field of law, unless he-

(i) is qualified for appointment as District Judge; or
(ii) has been a member of the Indian Legal Service and has held a post
in Grade I of that service;
(b) in the field of finance, accountancy or administration unless he
possesses such qualifications, as may be prescribed.

(4) The Central Government shall appoint a Member to be the Chairperson

of the Adjudicating Authority.

(5) Subject to the provisions of this Act,-

(a) the jurisdiction of the Adjudicating Authority may be exercised by

 Benches thereof;
(b) a Bench may be constituted by the Chairperson of the Adjudicating
Authority with one or two Members as the Chairperson of the
Adjudicating Authority may deem fit;
(c) the Benches of the Adjudicating Authority shall ordinarily sit at New
Delhi and such other places as the Central Government may, in
consultation with the Chairperson by notification, specify;
(d) the Central Government shall, by notification, specify the areas in
relation to which each Bench of the Adjudicating Authority may
exercise jurisdiction.

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (5), the Chairperson

may transfer a Member from one Bench to another Bench.

(7) If at any stage of the hearing of any case or matter it appears to the
Chairperson or a Member that the case or matter is of such a nature that it ought to
be heard by a Bench consisting of two Members, the case or matter may be
transferred by the Chairperson or, as the case may be, referred to him for transfer,
to such Bench as the Chairperson may deem fit.

(8) The Chairperson and every Member shall hold office as such for a term
of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office:

Provided that no Chairperson or other Member shall hold office as such after
he has attained the age of sixty-five years.
(9) The salary and allowances payable to and the other terms and conditions
of service of the Member shall be such as may be prescribed:

Provided that neither the salary and allowances nor the other terms and
conditions of service of the Member shall be varied to his disadvantage after
appointment.

(10) If, for reasons other than temporary absence, any vacancy occurs in the
office of the Chairperson or any other Member, then the Central Government shall
appoint another person in accordance with the provisions of this Act to fill the
vacancy and the proceedings may be continued before the Adjudicating Authority
from the stage at which the vacancy is filled.

(11) The Chairperson or any other Member may, by notice in writing under
his hand addressed to the Central Government, resign his office:

Provided that the Chairperson or any other Member shall, unless he is

permitted by the Central Government or relinquish his office sooner, continue to
hold office until the expiry of three months from the date of receipt of such notice or
until a person duly appointed as his successor enters upon his office or until the
expiry of his term of office, whichever is the earliest.

(12) The Chairperson or any other Members shall not be removed from his
office except by an order made by the Central Government after giving necessary
opportunity of hearing.

(13) In the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the
Chairperson by reason of his death, resignation or otherwise, the senior-most
Member shall act as the Chairperson of the Adjudicating Authority until the date on
which a new Chairperson appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Act to
fill such vacancy, enters upon his office.

(14) When the Chairperson of the Adjudicating Authority is unable to

discharge his functions owing to absence, illness or any other cause, the senior- most
Member shall discharge the functions of the Chairperson of the Adjudicating
Authority until the date on which the Chairperson of the Adjudicating Authority
resumes his duties.

(15) The Adjudicating Authority shall not be bound by the procedure laid
down by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, (5 of 1908) but shall be guided by the
principles of natural justice and, subject to the other provisions of this Act, the
Adjudicating Authority shall have powers to regulate its own procedure,

7. Staff of Adjudicating Authorities.- (1)The Central Government shall

provide each Adjudicating Authority with such officers and employees as that
Government may think fit.

(2) The officers and employees of the Adjudicating Authority shall discharge
their functions under the general superintendence of the Chairperson of the
Adjudicating Authority.

(3) The salaries and allowances and other conditions of service of the
officers and employees of the Adjudicating Authority shall be such as may be
prescribed.

8. Adjudication.- (1) On receipt of a complaint under sub-section (5) of

section 5, or applications made under sub-section (4) of section 17 or under sub-
section (10) of section 18, if the Adjudicating Authority has reason to believe that
any person has committed an offence under section 3 or is in possession of
proceeds of crime, he may serve a notice of not less than thirty days on such
person calling upon him to indicate the sources of his income, earning or assets,
out of which or by means of which he has acquired the property attached under
sub-section (1) of section 5, or, seized or frozen under section 17 or section 18, the
evidence on which he relies and other relevant information and particulars, and to
show cause why all or any of such properties should not be declared to be the
properties involved in money-laundering and confiscated by the Central
Government:

Provided that where a notice under this sub-section specifies any property as
being held by a person on behalf of any other person, a copy of such notice shall
also be served upon such other person:

Provided further that where such property is held jointly by more than one
person, such notice shall be served to all persons holding such property.
(2) The Adjudicating Authority shall, after-

(a) considering the reply, if any, to the notice issued under sub-
section (1);
(b) hearing the aggrieved person and the Director or any other officer
authorised by him in this behalf, and
(c)taking into account all relevant materials placed on record before
him,
by an order, record a finding whether all or any of the properties referred to in the
notice issued under sub-section (1) are involved in money-laundering:

Provided that if the property is claimed by a person, other than a person to

whom the notice had been issued, such person shall also be given an opportunity of
being heard to prove that the property is not involved in money-laundering.

(3) Where the Adjudicating Authority decides under sub-section (2) that any
property is involved in money-laundering, he shall, by an order in writing, confirm
the attachment of the property made under sub-section (1) of section 5 or retention
of property or l[record seized or frozen under section 17 or section 18 and record a
finding to that effect, whereupon such attachment or retention or freezing of the
seized or frozen property or record shall-

(a) continue during the pendency of the proceedings relating to any offence
under this Act before a court or under the corresponding law of any other
country, before the competent court of criminal jurisdiction outside India,
as the case may be; and

(b) become final after an order of confiscation is passed under sub- section
(5) or sub-section (7) of section 8 or section 58B or sub-section (2A) of
section 60 by the Adjudicating Authority
 (4) Where the provisional order of attachment made under sub-section (1) of
section 5 has been confirmed under sub-section (3), the Director or any other
officer authorised by him in this behalf shall forthwith take the possession of the
property attached under section 5 or frozen under sub-section (lA) of section 17, in
such manner as may be prescribed:

Provided that if it is not practicable to take possession of a property frozen

under sub-section (lA) of section 17, the order of confiscation shall have the same
effect as if the property had been taken possession of.

(5) Where on conclusion of a trial of an offence under this Act, the Special
Court finds that the offence of money-laundering has been committed, it shall
order that such property involved in the money-laundering or which has been used
for commission of the offence of money-laundering shall stand confiscated to the
Central Government.

(6) Where on conclusion of a trial under this Act, the Special Court finds that
the offence of money-laundering has not taken place or the property is not
involved in money-laundering, it shall order release of such property to the person
entitled to receive it.

(7) Where the trial under this Act cannot be conducted by reason of the death
of the accused or the accused being declared a proclaimed offender or for any
other reason or having commenced but could not be concluded , the Special Court
shall, on an application moved by the Director or a person claiming to be entitled
to possession of a property in respect of which an order has been passed under sub-
section (3)of section 8, shall pass appropriate orders regarding confiscation or
release of the property, as the case may be, involved in the offence of money-
laundering after having regard to the material placed before it.

9. Vesting of property in Central Government.-Where an order of

confiscation has been made under sub-section (5) or sub-section (7) of section 8 or
section 58B or sub-section (2A) of section 60 in respect of any property of a person,
all the rights and title in such property shall vest absolutely in the Central
Government free from all encumbrances:

Provided that where the Special Court or the Adjudicating Authority, as the
case may be, after giving an opportunity of being heard to any other person
interested in the property attached under this Chapter or seized or frozen under
Chapter V is of the opinion that any encumbrance on the property or lease-hold
interest has been created with a view to defeat the provisions of this Chapter, it may,
by order, declare such encumbrances or lease-hold interest to be void and there upon
the aforesaid property shall vest in the Central Government free from such
encumbrances or lease-hold interest:

Provided further that nothing in this section shall operate to discharge any
person from any liability in respect of such encumbrances which may be enforced
against such person by a suit for damages.

10. Management of properties confiscated under this Chapter.- (1) 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 of
India) as it thinks fit, to perform the functions of an Administrator.

(2) The Administrator appointed under sub-section (1) shall receive and
manage the property in relation to which an order has been made under sub- section
(5) or sub-section (6) or sub-section (7) of section 8 or section 58B or sub- section
(2A) of section 60 in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be
prescribed.

(3) The Administrator shall also take such measures, as the Central
Government may direct, to dispose of the property which is vested in the Central
Government under section 9.

11. Power regarding summons, production of documents and evidence,

etc.-(l) The Adjudicating Authority shall, for the purposes of this Act, have the
same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of civil Procedure, 1908
(5 of 1908) while trying a suit in respect of the following matters, namely:-
(a) discovery and inspection;
(b) enforcing the attendance of any person, including any officer of a banking
company or a financial institution or a company, and examining him on
oath;
(c) compelling the production of records;
(d) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(e) issuing commissions for examination of witnesses and documents;
and
(f) any other matter which may be prescribed.
(2) All the persons so summoned shall be bound to attend in person or through
authorised agents, as the Adjudicating Authority may direct, and shall be bound to
state the truth upon any subject respecting which they are examined or make
statements, and produce such documents as may be required.

(3) Every proceeding under this section shall be deemed to be a judicial

proceeding within the meaning of section 193 and section 228 of the Indian Penal
Code (45
 CHAPTER 4
OBLIGATIONS OF BANKING COMPANIES, FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS AND INTERMEDIARIES

12. Reporting entity to maintain records.-(l) Every reporting entity shall-

(a) maintain a record of all transactions, including information relating to
transactions covered under clause (b), in such manner as to enable it to
reconstruct individual transactions;

(b) furnish to the Director within such time as may be prescribed,

information relating to such transactions, whether attempted or
executed, the nature and value of which may be prescribed;

(c) verify the identity of its clients in such manner and subject to such
conditions, as may be prescribed;

(d) identify the beneficial owner, if any, of such of its clients, as may be
prescribed;

(e) maintain record of documents evidencing identity of its clients and

beneficial owners as well as account files and business correspondence
relating to its clients.

(2) Every information maintained, furnished or verified, save as otherwise

provided under any law for the time being in force, shall be kept confidential.

(3) The records referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) shall be

maintained for a period of five years from the date of transaction between a client
and the reporting entity.

(4) The records referred to in clause (e) of sub-section (1) shall be

maintained for a period of five years after the business relationship between a
client and the reporting entity has ended or the account has been closed,
whichever is later.

(5) The Central Government may, by notification, exempt any reporting

entity or class of reporting entities from any obligation under this Chapter.

12A. Access to information.-(l) The Director may call for from any
reporting entity any of the records referred to in sub-section (1) of section 12 and
any additional information as he considers necessary for the purposes of this Act.

(2) Every reporting entity shall furnish to the Director such information as
may be required by him under sub-section (1) within such time and in such
manner as he may specify.

(3) Save as otherwise provided under any law for the time being in force,
every information sought by the Director under sub-section (1), shall be kept
confidential.

13. Powers of Director to impose fine.-(l) The Director may, either of his
own motion or on an application made by any authority, officer or person, make
such inquiry or cause such inquiry to be made, as he thinks fit to be
necessary, with regard to the obligations of the reporting entity, under this
Chapter.

(lA) If at any stage of inquiry or any other proceedings before him, the
Director having regard to the nature and complexity of the case, is of the opinion
that it is necessary to do so, he may direct the concerned reporting entity to get its
records, as may be specified, audited by an accountant from amongst a panel of
accountants, maintained by the Central Government for this purpose.

(lB) The expenses of, and incidental to, any audit under sub-section (lA)
shall be borne by the Central Government.

(2) If the Director, in the course of any inquiry, finds that a reporting entity
or its designated director on the Board or any of its employees has failed to
comply with the obligations under this Chapter, then, without prejudice to any
other action that may be taken under any other provisions of this Act, he may-

(a) issue a warning in writing; or

(b) direct such reporting entity or its designated director on the Board or
any of its employees, to comply with specific instructions; or
(c) direct such reporting entity or its designated director on the Board or
any of its employees, to send reports at such interval as may be
prescribed on the measures it is taking; or
(d) by an order, impose a monetary penalty on such reporting entity or its
designated director on the Board or any of its employees, which shall
not be less than ten thousand rupees but may extend to one lakh
rupees for each failure.

(3) The Director shall forward a copy of the order passed under sub- section
(2) to every banking company, financial institution or intermediary or person who
is a party to the proceedings under that sub-section.

Explanation.-For the purpose of this section, "accountant" shall mean a charterted

accountant within the meaning of the Chartered Accountant Act, 1949 (38 of
1949).

14. No civil or criminal proceedings against reporting entity, its

directors and employees in certain cases.-Save as otherwise provided in section
13, the reporting entity, its directors and employees shall not be liable to any civil
or criminal proceedings against them for furnishing information under clause (b)
of sub-section (1) of section 12.

15. Procedure and manner of furnishing information by reporting

entities.- The Central Government may, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of
India, prescribe the procedure and the manner of maintaining and furnishing
information by a reporting entity under sub-section (1) of section 12 for the
purpose of implementing the provisions of this Act.
 CHAPTER V
SUMMONS, SEARCHES AND SEIZURES, ETC.

16. Power of survey.-(l) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other

provisions of this Act, where an authority, on the basis of material in his
possession, has reason to believe (the reasons for such belief to be recorded in
writing) that an offence under section 3 has been committed, he may enter any
place-

(i) within the limits of the area assigned to him; or

(ii) in respect of which he is authorised for the purposes of this section by
such other authority, who is assigned the area within which such
place is situated,

at which any act constituting the commission of such offence is carried on, and
may require any proprietor, employee or any other person who may at that time
and place be attending in any manner to, or helping in, such act so as to,-

(i) afford him the necessary facility to inspect such records as he may
require and which may be available at such place;
(ii) afford him the necessary facility to check or verify the proceeds of
crime or any transaction related to proceeds of crime which may be
found therein; and
(iii) furnish such information as he may require as to any matter which may
be useful for, or relevant, to any proceedings under this Act.

Explanation.-For the purposes of this sub-section, a place, where an act which

constitutes the commission of the offence is carried on, shall also include any
other place, whether any activity is carried on therein or not, in which the person
carrying on such activity states that any of his records or any part of his property
relating to such act are or is kept.

(2) The authority referred to in sub-section (1) shall, after entering any
place referred to in that sub-section immediately after completion of survey,
forward a copy of the reasons so recorded along with material in his possession,
referred to in that sub-section, to the Adjudicating Authority in a sealed envelop in
the manner as may be prescribed and such Adjudicating Authority shall keep such
reasons and material for such period as may be prescribed.
(3) An authority acting' under this section may-

(i) place marks of identification on the records inspected by him and make
or cause to be made extracts or copies therefrom,
 (ii) make an inventory of any property checked or verified by him, and
(iii) record the statement of any person present in the place which may be
useful for, or relevant to, any proceeding under this Act.

17. Search and seizure.-(l) Where the Director or any other officer not below
the rank of Deputy Director authorised by him for the purposes of this section, on
the basis of information in his possession, has reason to believe (the reason for
such belief to be recorded in writing) that any person-

(i) has committed any act which constitutes money-laundering, or

(ii) is in possession of any proceeds of crime involved in money-
laundering, or
(iii) is in possession of any records relating to money-laundering, or
(iv) is in possession of any property related to crime
then, subject to the rules made in this behalf, he may authorise any officer
subordinate to him to-

(a) enter and search any building, place, vessel, vehicle or aircraft where he has
reason to suspect that such records or proceeds of crime are kept;
(b) break open the lock of any door, box, locker, safe, almirah or other
receptacle for exercising the powers conferred by clause (a) where the
keys thereof are not available;
(c) seize any record or property found as a result of such search;
(d) place marks of identification on such record or property, if required or make
or cause to be made extracts or copies therefrom;
(e) make a note or an inventory of such record or property;
(f) examine on oath any person, who is found to be in possession or control of
any record or property, in respect of all matters relevant for the purposes of
any investigation under this Act:

Provided that no search shall be conducted unless, in relation to the

scheduled 5offence, a report has been forwarded to a Magistrate under section 157
of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, (2 of 1974) or a complaint has been filed
by a person, authorised to investigate the offence mentioned in the Schedule, before
a Magistrate or court for taking cognizance of the scheduled offence, as the case
may be, or in cases where such report is not required to be forwarded, a similar
report of information received or otherwise has been submitted by an officer
authorised to investigate a scheduled offence to an officer not below the rank of
Additional Secretary to the Government of India or equivalent being head of the
office or Ministry or Department or Unit, as the case may be, or any other officer
who may be authorised by the Central Government, by notification, for this purpose.

(lA) Where it is not practicable to seize such record or property, the officer
authorised under sub-section (1), may make an order to freeze such property
whereupon the property shall not be transferred or otherwise dealt with, except with
the prior permission of the officer making such order, and a copy of such order shall
be served on the person concerned:

Provided that if, at any time before its confiscation under sub-section (5) or
sub-section (7) of section 8 or section 58B or sub-section (2A) of section 60, it
becomes practical to seize a frozen property, the officer authorised under sub-
section (1) may seize such property.

(2) The authority, who has been authorised under sub-section (1) shall,
immediately after search and seizure or upon issuance of a freezing order forward a
copy of the reasons so recorded along with material in his possession, referred to in
that sub-section, to the Adjudicating Authority in a sealed envelope, in the manner,
as may be prescribed and such Adjudicating Authority shall keep such reasons and
material for such period, as may be prescribed.
c'
(3) Where an authority, upon information obtained during survey under
section 16, is satisfied that any evidence shall be or is likely to be concealed or
tampered with, he may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, enter and search
the building or place where such evidence is located and seize that evidence:

Provided that no authorisation referred to in sub-section (1) shall be required

for search under this sub-section.

(4) The authority seizing any record or property under sub-section (1) or
freezing any record or property under sub-section (lA) shall, within a period of thirty
days from such seizure or freezing, as the case may be, file an application,
requesting for retention of such record or property seized under sub-section (1) or
for continuation of the order of freezing served under sub-section (lA), before the
Adjudicating Authority.

18. Search of persons.-(1) If an authority, authorised in this behalf by the

Central Government by general or special order, has reason to believe (the
reason for such belief to be recorded in writing) that any person has secreted
about his person or in anything under his possession, ownership or control, any
record or proceeds of crime which may be useful for or relevant to any
proceedings under this Act, he may search that person and seize such record or
property which may be useful for or relevant to any proceedings under this Act:
 Provided that no search of any person shall be made unless, in relation to
the scheduled offence, a report has been forwarded to a Magistrate under section
157 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, (2 of 1974), or a complaint has been
filed by a person, authorised to investigate the offence mentioned in the Schedule,
before a Magistrate or court for taking cognizance of the scheduled offence, as the
case may be, or in cases where such report is not required to be forwarded, a
similar report of information received or otherwise has been submitted by an
officer authorised to investigate a scheduled offence to an officer not below the
rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India or equivalent being head
of the office or Ministry or Department or Unit, as the case may be, or any other
officer who may be authorised by the Central Government, by notification, for this
purpose.

(2) The authority, who has been authorised under sub-section (1) shall,
immediately after search and seizure, forward a copy of the reasons so recorded
along with material in his possession, referred to in that sub-section, to the
Adjudicating Authority in a sealed envelope, in the manner, as may be
prescribed and such Adjudicating Authority shall keep such reasons and
material for such period, as may be prescribed.

(3) Where an authority is about to search any person, he shall, if such person
so requires, take such person within twenty-four hours to the nearest gazetted
officer, superior in rank to him, or a Magistrate:

Provided that the period of twenty-four hours shall exclude the time
necessary for the journey undertaken to take such person to the nearest gazetted
officer, superior in rank to him, or Magistrate's Court.

(4) If the requisition under sub-section (3) is made, the authority shall not
detain the person for more than twenty-four hours prior to taking him before the
Gazetted Officer superior in rank to him, or the Magistrate referred to in that
sub-section:

Provided that the period of twenty-four hours shall exclude the time
necessary for the journey from the place of detention to the office of the Gazetted
Officer, superior in rank to him, or the Magistrate's Court.

(5) The Gazetted Officer or the Magistrate before whom any such person is
brought shall, if he sees no reasonable ground for search, forthwith discharge
such person but otherwise shall direct that search be made.

(6) Before making the search under sub-section (1) or sub-section (5) the
authority shall call upon two or more persons to attend and witness the search,
and the search shall be made in the presence of such persons.
 (7) The authority shall prepare a list of record or property seized in the
course of the search and obtain the signatures of the witnesses on the list.
(8) No female shall be searched by anyone except a female.

(9) The Authority shall record the statement of the person searched under
sub-section (1) or sub-section (5) in respect of the records or proceeds of crime
found or seized in the course of the search:

(10) The authority seizing any record or property under sub-section (1) shall,
within a period of thirty days from such seizure, file an application requesting for
retention of such record or property, before the Adjudicating Authority.

19. Power to arrest.-(l) If the Director, Deputy Director, Assistant

Director, or any other officer authorised in this behalf by the Central Government
by general or special order, has on the basis of material m his possession reason to
believe (the reason for such belief to be recorded in writing) that any person has
been guilty of an offence punishable under this Act, he may arrest such person and
shall, as soon as may be, inform him of the grounds for such arrest.

(2) The Director, Deputy Director, Assistant Director or any other officer
shall, immediately after arrest of such person under sub-section (I), forward a
copy of the order, along with the material in his possession, referred to in that
sub-section, to the Adjudicating Authority, in a sealed envelope, in the manner,
as may be prescribed and such Adjudicating Authority shall keep such order and
material for such period, as may be prescribed.

(3) Every person arrested under sub-section (1) shall within twenty-four
hours, be taken to a Judicial Magistrate or a Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case
may be, having jurisdiction:

Provided that the period of twenty-four hours shall exclude the time
necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the Magistrate's Court.

20. Retention of property.-(1) Where any property has been seized under
section 17 or section 18 or frozen under sub-section (IA) of section 17 and the
officer authorised by the Director in this behalf has, on the basis of material in his
possession, reason to believe (the reason for such belief to be recorded by him in
writing) that such property is required to be retained for the purposes of
adjudication under section 8, such property may, if seized, be retained or if frozen,
may continue to remain frozen, for a period not exceeding one hundred and eighty
days from the day on which such property was seized or frozen, as the case may
be.
 (2) The officer authorised by the Director shall, immediately after he has
passed an order for retention or continuation of freezing of the property for
purposes of adjudication under section 8, forward a copy of the order along with
the material in his possession, referred to in sub-section (1), to the Adjudicating
Authority, in a sealed envelope, in the manner as may be prescribed and such
Adjudicating Authority shall keep such order and material for such period as
may be prescribed.

(3) On the expiry of the period specified in sub-section (1), the property
shall be returned to the person from whom such property was seized or whose
property was ordered to be frozen unless the Adjudicating Authority permits
retention or continuation of freezing of such property beyond the said period.

(4) The Adjudicating Authority, before authorising the retention or

continuation of freezing of such property beyond the period specified in sub-
section (1), shall satisfy himself that the property is prima facie involved in
money-laundering and the property is required for the purposes of adjudication
under section 8.

(5) After passing the order of confiscation under sub-section (5) or sub-
section (7) of section 8, the Court or the Adjudicating Authority, as the case may
be, shall direct the release of all property other than the property involved in
money-laundering to the person from whom such property was seized or the
persons entitled to receive it.

(6) Where an order releasing the property has been made by the Court under
sub-section (6) of section 8 or by the Adjudicating Authority under section 58B or
sub-section (2A) of section 60, the Director or any officer authorised by him in this
behalf may withhold the release of any such property for a period of ninety days
from the date of such order, if he is of the opinion that such property is relevant for
the appeal proceedings under this Act.

21. Retention of records.-(1)Where any records have been seized, under

section 17 or section 18 or frozen under sub-section (IA) of section 17 and the
Investigating Officer or any other officer authorised by the Director in this behalf
has reason to believe that any of such records are required to be retained for any
inquiry under this Act, such records may if seized, be retained or if frozen, may
continue to remain frozen, for a period not exceeding one hundred and eighty days
from the day on which such records were seized or frozen, as the case may be.

(2) The person, from whom records seized or frozen, shall be entitled to
obtain copies of records.
 (3) On the expiry of the period specified under sub-section (1), the records
shall be returned to the person from whom such records were seized or whose
records were ordered to be frozen unless the Adjudicating Authority permits
retention or continuation of freezing of such records beyond the said period.

(4) The Adjudicating Authority, before authorising the retention or

continuation of freezing of such records beyond the period specified in sub-
section (1), shall satisfy himself that the records are required for the purposes of
adjudication under section 8.

(5) After passing of an order of confiscation under sub-section (5) or sub-

section (7) of section 8, the Adjudicating Authority shall direct the release of the
records to the person from whom such records were seized.

(6) Where an order releasing the records has been made by the Court under
sub-section (6) of section 8 or by the Adjudicating Authority under section 58B or
sub-section (2A) of section 60, the Director or any other officer authorised by him
in this behalf may withhold the release of any such record for a period of ninety
days from the date of such order, if he is of the opinion that such record is relevant
for the appeal proceedings under this Act.

22. Presumption as to records or property in certain cases.-(l) Where

any records or property are or is found in the possession or control of any person in
the course of a surveyor a search, or where any record or property is produced by
any person or has been resumed or seized from the custody or control of any
person or has been frozen under this Act or under any other law for the time being
in force it shall be presumed that-

(i) such records or property belong or belongs to such person;

(ii) the contents of such records are true; and
(iii) the signature and every other part of such records which purport to
be in the handwriting of any particular person or which may
reasonably be assumed to have been signed by, or to be in the
handwriting of, any particular person, are in that person's
handwriting, and in the case of a record, stamped, executed or
attested, that it was executed or attested by the person by whom it
purports to have been so stamped, executed or attested.

(2) Where any records have been received from any place outside India,
duly authenticated by such authority or person and in such manner as may be
prescribed, in the course of proceedings under this Act, the Special Court, the
Appellate Tribunal or the Adjudicating Authority, as the case may be, shall-
 (a) presume, that the signature and every other part of such record,
which purports to be in the handwriting of any particular person or
which the court may reasonably assume to have been signed by, or
to be in the handwriting of, any particular person, is in that person's
handwriting; and in the case of a record executed or attested, that it
was executed or attested by the person by whom it purports to have
been so executed or attested;
(b) admit the document in evidence, notwithstanding that it is not duly
stamped, if such document is otherwise admissible in evidence.

23. Presumption in inter-connected transactions.-Where money-

laundering involves two or more inter-connected transactions and one or more
such transactions is or are proved to be involved in money-laundering, then for
the purposes of adjudication or confiscation under section 8 or for the trial of
the money-laundering offence, it shall unless otherwise proved to the satisfaction
of the Adjudicating Authority or the Special Court, be presumed that the
remaining transactions form part of such inter-connected transactions.

24. Burden of Proof.-In any proceeding relating to proceeds of crime

under this Act,-
(a) in the case of a person charged with the offence of money-laundering
under section 3, the Authority or Court shall, unless the contrary is
proved, presume that such proceeds of crime are involved in money-
laundering; and
(b) in the case of any other person the Authority or Court, may presume
that such proceeds of crime are involved in money-laundering.
 CHAPTER VI
APPELLATE TRIBUNAL

25. Establishment of Appellate Tribunal.-The Central Government shall,

by notification, establish an Appellate Tribunal to hear appeals against the orders
of the Adjudicating Authority and the authorities under this Act.

26. Appeals to Appellate Tribunal.- (1) Save as otherwise provided in

sub-section (3), the Director or any person aggrieved by an order made by the
Adjudicating Authority under this Act, may prefer an appeal to the Appellate
Tribunal.

(2) Any reporting entity aggrieved by any order of the Director made
under sub-section (2) of section 13, may prefer an appeal to the Appellate
Tribunal.

(3) Every appeal preferred under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be
filed within a period of forty-five days from the date on which a copy of the
order made by the Adjudicating Authority or Director is received and it shall be
in such form and be accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed:

Provided that the Appellate Tribunal may after giving an opportunity of

being heard entertain an appeal after the expiry of the said period of forty-five
days if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not filing it within that
period.

(4) On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), or sub-section (2), the

Appellate Tribunal may, after giving the parties to the appeal an opportunity of
being heard, pass such orders thereon as it thinks fit, confirming, modifying or
setting aside the order appealed against.

(5) The Appellate Tribunal shall send a copy of every order made by it to
the parties to the appeal and to the concerned Adjudicating Authority or the
Director, as the case may be.

(6) The appeal filed before the Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (1) or
sub-section (2) shall be dealt with by it as expeditiously as possible and
endeavour shall be made by it to dispose of the appeal finally within six months
from the date of filing of the appeal.

27. Composition, etc., of Appellate Tribunal.-(l) The Appellate Tribunal

shall consist of a Chairperson and two other Members.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act,-

 (a) the jurisdiction of the Appellate Tribunal may be exercised by
Benches thereof;
(b) a Bench may be constituted by the Chairperson with one or two
Members as the Chairperson may deem fit;

(c) the Benches of the Appellate Tribunal shall ordinarily sit at New
Delhi and at such other places as the Central Government may, in
consultation with the Chairperson, by notification, specify;
(d) the Central Government shall, by notification, specify the areas in
relation to which each Bench of the Appellate Tribunal may exercise
jurisdiction.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the Chairperson

may transfer a Member from one Bench to another Bench.

(4) If at any stage of hearing of any case or matter it appears to the

Chairperson or a Member that the case or matter is of such a nature that it ought
to be heard by a Bench consisting of two Members, the case or matter may be
transferred by the Chairperson or, as the case may be referred to him for transfer,
to such Bench as the Chairperson may deem fit.

28. Qualifications for appointment.-(1) A person shall not be qualified

for appointment as Chairperson unless he is or has been a Judge of the Supreme
Court or of a High Court or is qualified to be a Judge of the High Court.

(2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Member unless he-

(b) has been a Member of the Indian Legal Service and has held a post
in Grade I of that Service for at least three years; or
(c) has been a member of the Indian Revenue Service and has held the
post of Commissioner of Income-tax or equivalent post in that Service
for at least three years; or
(d) has been a member of the Indian Economic Service and has held the
post of Joint Secretary or equivalent post in that Service for at least
three years; or
(e) has been a member of the Indian Customs and Central Excise Service
and has held the post of a Joint Secretary or equivalent post in that
Service for at least three years; or
(f) has been in the practice of accountancy as a. chartered accountant
under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 (38 of 1949) or as a
registered accountant under any law for the time being in force or
partly as a registered accountant and partly as a chartered accountant
for at least ten years:
 Provided that one of the members of the Appellate Tribunal shall
be from category mentioned in clause (f); or
(g) has been a member of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service and has
held the post of Joint Secretary or equivalent post in that Service for
at least three years.

(3) No sitting Judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court shall be

appointed under this section except after consultation with the Chief Justice of
India.

(4) The Chairperson or a Member holding a post as such in any other

Tribunal, established under any law for the time being in force, in addition to his
being the Chairperson or a Member of that Tribunal, may be appointed as the
Chairperson or a Member, as the case may be, of the Appellate Tribunal under this
Act.

30. Conditions of service.- The salary and allowances payable to and the
other terms and conditions of service (including tenure of office) of the
Chairperson and other Members shall be such as may be prescribed:

Provided that neither the salary and allowances nor the other terms and
conditions of service (including tenure of office) of the Chairperson or any other
Member shall be varied to his disadvantage after appointment.

31. Vacancies.-If, for reason other than temporary absence, any vacancy
occurs in the office of the Chairperson or any other Member, then the Central
Government shall appoint another person in accordance with the provisions of
this Act to fill the vacancy and the proceedings may be continued before the
Appellate Tribunal from the stage at which the vacancy is filled.

32. Resignation and removal.-(l) The Chairperson or any other Member

may, by notice in writing under his hand addressed to the Central Government,
resign his office:

Provided that the Chairperson or any other Member shall, unless he is

permitted by the Central Government to relinquish his office sooner, continue to
hold office until the expiry of three months from the date of receipt of such notice
or until a person duly appointed as his successor enters upon his office or until the
expiry of his term of office, whichever is the earliest.

(2) The Chairperson or any other Member shall not be removed from his
office except by an order made by the Central Government on the ground of
proved misbehaviour or incapacity, after an inquiry made by a person appointed
by the President in which such Chairperson or any other Member concerned had
been informed of the charges against him and given a reasonable opportunity of
being heard in respect of those charges:
.
Provided that the Chief Justice of India shall be consulted before removal
of the Chairperson or a Member who was appointed on the recommendation of
the Chief Justice of India.

33. Member to act as Chairperson in certain circumstances.-(l) In the

event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the Chairperson by reason
of his death, resignation or otherwise, the senior-most Member, shall act as the
Chairperson until the date on which a new Chairperson, appointed in
accordance with the provisions of this Act to fill such vacancy, enters upon his
office.

(2) When the Chairperson is unable to discharge his functions owing to

absence, illness or any other cause, the senior-most Member shall discharge the
functions of the Chairperson until the date on which the Chairperson resumes
his duties.

34. Staff of Appellate Tribunal.-(l) The Central Government shall provide

the Appellate Tribunal with such officers and employees as that Government may
think fit.

(2) The officers and employees of the Appellate Tribunal shall discharge
their
functions under the general superintendence of the Chairperson.

(3) The salaries and allowances and other conditions of service of the
officers and employees of the Appellate Tribunal shall be such as may be
prescribed.

35. Procedure and powers of Appellate Tribunal.-(l) The Appellate

Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down by the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) but shall be guided by the principles of natural justice
and, subject to the other provisions of this Act, the Appellate Tribunal shall have
powers to regulate its own procedure.

(2) The Appellate Tribunal shall have, for the purposes of discharging its
functions under this Act, the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) while trying a suit, 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) subject to the provisions of sections 123 and 124 of the Indian
Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872), requisitioning any public record or
document or copy of such record or document from any office;
(e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents;
(f) reviewing its decisions;
(g) dismissing a representation for default or deciding it ex parte;
(h) setting aside any order of dismissal of any representation for default
or any order passed by it ex parte; and
(i) any other matter, which may be, prescribed by the Central
Government.

(3) An order made by the Appellate Tribunal under this Act shall be
executable by the Appellate Tribunal as a decree of civil court and, for this
purpose, the Appellate Tribunal shall have all the powers of a civil court.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3), the Appellate

Tribunal may transmit any order made by it to a civil court having local
jurisdiction and such civil court shall execute the order as if it were a decree
made by that court.

(5) All proceedings before the Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed to be

judicial proceedings within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 of the Indian
Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860) and the Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed to be a
civil court for the purposes of sections 345 and 346 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).

36. Distribution of business amongst Benches.-Where any Benches are

constituted, the Chairperson may, from time to time, by notification, make
provisions as to the distribution of the business of the Appellate Tribunal
amongst the Benches and also provide for the matters which may be dealt with
by each Bench.

37. Power of Chairperson to transfer cases.-On the application of any of

the parties and after notice to the parties, and after hearing such of them as he may
desire to be heard, or on his own motion without such notice, the
Chairperson may transfer any case pending before one Bench, for disposal, to
any other Bench.

38. Decision to be by majority.-If the Members of a Bench consisting of

two Members differ in opinion on any point, they shall state the point or points
on which they differ, and make a reference to the Chairperson who shall either
hear the point or points himself or refer the case for hearing on such point or
points by third Member of the Appellate Tribunal and such point or points
shall be decided according to the opinion of the majority of the Members of the
Appellate Tribunal who have heard the case, including those who first heard it.

39. Right of appellant to take assistance of authorised representative

and of Government to appoint presenting officers.-(l) A person preferring an
appeal to the Appellate Tribunal under this Act may either appear in person or
take the assistance of any authorised representative of his choice to present his
case before the Appellate Tribunal.

Explanation.-For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression

"authorised representative" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it under
sub-section (2) of section 288 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961).

(2) The Central Government or the Director may authorise one or more
authorised representatives or any of its officers to act as presenting officers and
every person so authorised may present the case with respect to any appeal
before the Appellate Tribunal.

40. Members, etc., to be public servants.- The Chairperson, Members and

other officers and employees of the Appellate Tribunal, the Adjudicating
Authority, Director and the officers subordinate to him shall be deemed to be
public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860
(45 of 1860).

41. Civil court not to have jurisdiction.-No civil court shall have
jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in respect of any matter which the
Director, an Adjudicating Authority or the Appellate Tribunal is empowered by or
under this Act 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 Act.

42. Appeal to High Court.-Any person aggrieved by any decision or order

of the Appellate Tribunal may file an appeal to the High Court within sixty days
from the date of communication of the decision or order of the Appellate Tribunal
to him on any question of law or fact arising out of such order:

Provided that the High Court may, if it is satisfied that the appellant was
prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal within the said period, allow
it to be filed within a further period not exceeding sixty days.

Explanation.-For the purposes of this section, "High Court" means-

(i) The High Court within the jurisdiction of which the aggrieved party
ordinarily resides or carries on business or personally works for gain;
and
(ii) Where the Central Government is the aggrieved party, the High
Court within the jurisdiction of which the respondent, or in a case
where there are more than one respondent, any of the respondents,
ordinarily resides or carries on business or personally works for gain.
 CHAPTERVII
SPECIAL COURTS

43. Special Courts.-(1) The Central Government, in consultation with the

Chief Justice of the High Court, shall, for trial of offence punishable under
section 4, by notification, designate one or more Courts of Session as Special
Court or Special Courts for such area or areas or for such case or class or group
of cases as may be specified in the notification.

Explanation.--In this sub-section, "High Court" means the High Court of the
State in which a Sessions Court designated as Special Court was functioning
immediately before such designation.

(2) While trying an offence under this Act, a Special Court shall also try an
offence, other than an offence referred to in sub-section (1), with which the
accused may, under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), be charged
at the same trial.

44. Offences triable by Special Courts.-(l) Notwithstanding anything

contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974),-

(a) an offence punishable under section 4 and any scheduled offence

connected to the offence under that section shall be triable by the
Special Court constituted for the area in which the offence has been
committed:
Provided that the Special Court, trying a scheduled offence before the
commencement of this Act, shall continue to try such scheduled
offence; or
(b) a Special Court may, upon a complaint made by an authority
authorised in this behalf under this Act take cognizance of offence
under section 3, without the accused being committed to it for trial.
(c) if the court which has taken cognizance of the scheduled offence is other than
the Special Court which has taken cognizance of the complaint of the offence
of money-laundering under sub-clause (b), it shall, on an application by the
authority authorised to file a complaint under this Act, commit the case
relating to the scheduled offence to the Special Court and the Special Court
shall, on receipt of such case proceed to deal with it from the stage at which
it is committed.
(d) a Special Court while trying the scheduled offence or the offence of
money-laundering shall hold trial in accordance with the provisions
 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), as it applies to
a trial before a Court of Session.

(2) Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to affect the special
powers of the High Court regarding bail under section 439 of the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) and the High Court may exercise such
powers including the power under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of that section as if
the reference to "Magistrate" in that section includes also a reference to a
"Special Court" designated under section 43.

45. Offences to be cognizable and non-bailable.-(l) Notwithstanding

anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), no
person accused of an offence punishable for a term of imprisonment of more
than three years under Part A of the Schedule shall be released on bail or on his
own bond unless-

(i) the Public Prosecutor has been given an opportunity to oppose

the application for such release; and
(ii) where the Public Prosecutor opposes the application, the court is
satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that he is
not guilty of such offence and that he is not likely to commit any
offence while on bail:

Provided that a person who is under the age of sixteen years or is a woman
or is sick or infirm, may be released on bail, if the special court so directs:

Provided further that the Special Court shall not take cognizance of any
offence punishable under section 4 except upon a complaint in writing made
by-

(i) the Director; or

(ii) any officer of the Central Government or State Government
authorised in writing in this behalf by the Central Government by a
general or a special order made in this behalf by that Government.

(lA) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal

Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), or any other provision of this Act, no police officer
shall investigate into an offence under this Act unless specifically authorised, by
the Central Government by a general or special order, and, subject to such
conditions as may be prescribed.

(2) The limitation on granting of bail specified in sub-section (1) is in

addition to the limitations under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
(2 of 1974) or any other law for the time being in force on granting of bail.

46. Application of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 to proceedings

before Special Court.-(l) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the provisions
of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) (including the provisions as to
bails or bonds), shall apply to the proceedings before a Special Court and for the
purposes of the said provisions, the Special Court shall be deemed to be a Court of
Session and the persons conducting the prosecution before the Special Court, shall
be deemed to be a Public Prosecutor:

Provided that the Central Government may also appoint for any case or class
or group of cases a Special Public Prosecutor.

(2) A person shall not be qualified to be appointed as a Public Prosecutor or

a Special Public Prosecutor under this section unless he has been in practice as an
Advocate for not less than seven years, under the Union or a State, requiring
special knowledge of law.

(3) Every person appointed as a Public Prosecutor or a Special Public

Prosecutor under this section shall be deemed to be a Public Prosecutor within
the meaning of clause (u) of section 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
(2 of 1974) and the provisions of that Code shall have effect accordingly.

47. Appeal and revision.-The High Court may exercise, so far as may be
applicable, all the powers conferred by Chapter XXIX or Chapter XXX of the Code
of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), on a High Court, as if a Special Court
within the local limits of the jurisdiction of the High Court were a Court of Session
trying cases within the local limits of the jurisdiction of the High court.
 CHAPTER VIII
AUTHORITIES

48. Authorities under the Act.-There shall be the following classes of

authorities for the purposes of this Act, namely:-

(a) Director or Additional Director or Joint Director,

(b) Deputy Director,
(c) Assistant Director, and
(d) such other class of officers as may be appointed for the purposes of
this Act.

49. Appointment and powers of authorities and other officers.-(l) The

Central Government may appoint such persons as it thinks fit to be authorities
for the purposes of this Act.

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), the Central

Government may authorise the Director or an Additional Director or a Joint
Director or a Deputy Director or an Assistant Director appointed under that sub-
section to appoint other authorities below the rank of an Assistant Director.

(3) Subject to such conditions and limitations as the Central Government

may impose, an authority may exercise the powers and discharge the duties
conferred or imposed on it under this Act.

50. Powers of authorities regarding summons, production of documents

and to give evidence, etc.-(l) The Director shall, for the purposes of section 13,
have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) while trying a suit in respect of the following matters,
namely:-

(a) discovery and inspection;

(b) enforcing the attendance of any person, including any officer
of a reporting entity and examining him on oath;
(c) compelling the production of records;
(d) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(e) issuing commissions for examination of witnesses and
documents; and
(f) any other matter which may be prescribed.

(2) The Director, Additional Director, Joint Director, Deputy Director or

Assistant Director shall have power to summon any person whose attendance he
considers necessary whether to give evidence or to produce any records during
the course of any investigation or proceeding under this Act.

(3) All the persons so summoned shall be bound to attend in person or

through authorised agents, as such officer may direct, and shall be bound to state
the truth upon any subject respecting which they are examined or make
statements, and produce such documents as may be required.

(4) Every proceeding under sub-sections (2) and (3) shall be deemed to be a
judicial proceeding within the meaning of section 193 and section 228 of the
Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860).

(5) Subject to any rules made in this behalf by the Central Government, any
officer referred to in sub-section (2) may impound and retain in his custody for
such period, as he thinks fit, any records produced before him in any
proceedings under this Act:

Provided that an Assistant Director or a Deputy Director shall not-

(a) impound any records without recording his reasons for so doing; or
(b) retain in his custody any such records for a period exceeding three
months, without obtaining the previous approval of the Director.

51. Jurisdiction of authorities.-(1) The authorities shall exercise all or any

of the powers and perform all or any of the functions conferred on, or, assigned, as
the case may be, to such authorities by or under this Act or the rules framed
thereunder in accordance with such directions as the Central Government may
issue for the exercise of powers and performance of the functions by all or any of
the authorities.

(2) In issuing the directions or orders referred to in sub-section (1), the

Central Government may have regard to anyone or more of the following
criteria, namely:-

(a) territorial area;

(b) classes of persons;
(c) classes of cases; and
(d) any other criterion specified by the Central Government in this
behalf.

52. Power of Central Government to issue directions, etc.-The Central

Government may, from time to time, issue such orders, instructions and
directions to the authorities as it may deem fit for the proper administration of
this Act and such authorities and all other persons employed in execution of this
Act shall observe and follow such orders, instructions and directions of the
Central Government:

Provided that no such orders, instructions or directions shall be issued so as

to-
(a) require any authority to decide a particular case in a particular
manner; or
(b) interfere with the discretion of the Adjudicating Authority in exercise
of his functions.

53. Empowerment of certain officers.- The Central Government may, by

a special or general order, empower an officer not below the rank of Director of
the Central Government or of a State Government to act as an authority under this
Act:

Provided that the Central Government may empower an officer below the
rank of Director if the officer of the rank of the Director or above are not
available in a particular area.

54. Certain officers to assist in inquiry, etc.-The following officers and

others are hereby empowered and required to assist the authorities in the
enforcement of this Act, namely:-

(a) officers of the Customs and Central Excise Departments;

(b) officers appointed under sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (61 of 1985);
(c) income-tax authorities under sub-section (1) of section 117 of the
Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961);
(d) members of the recognised stock exchange referred to in clause (f) of
section 2 and the officers of the stock exchanges recognised under
section 4 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of
1956);
(e) officers of the Reserve Bank of India constituted under sub-section (1)
of section 3 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934);
(f) officers of police;
(g) officers of enforcement appointed under sub-section (1) of section 36
of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (40 of 1999);
(h) officers of the Securities and Exchange Board of India established
under section 3 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act,
1992 (15 of 1992);
(ha) officers of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
 established under section 3 of the Insurance Regulatory and
Development Authority Act, 1999 (41 of 1999);
(hb)officers of the Forward Markets Commission established under
section 3 of the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1952 (74 of
1952);
(hc) officers and members of the recognised association recognised under
section 6 of the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1952 (74 of
1952);
(hd) officers of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development
Authority;
(he) officers of the Department of Posts in the Government of India;
(hf) Registrars or Sub-Registrars appointed by the State Governments
under section 6 of the Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1908);
(hg) registering authority empowered to register motor vehicles under
Chapter IV of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988);
(hh) officers and members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of
India constituted under section 3 of the Chartered Accountants Act,
1949 (38 of 1949);
(hi) officers and members of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants
of India constituted under section 3 of the Cost and Works
Accountants Act, 1959 (23 of 1959);
(hj)officers and members of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India
constituted under section 3 of the Companies Secretaries Act, 1980;
(hj) officers and members of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India
constituted under section 3 of the Company Secretaries Act, 1980 (56
(hj) officers and members of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India
constituted under section 3 of the Company Secretaries Act, 1980 (56 of
1980
(hj) officers and members of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India
constituted under section 3 of the Company Secretaries Act, 1980 (56 of 1980

(i) officers of any other body corporate constituted or established under a

Central Act or State Act;
(ii) such other officers of the Central Government, State Government, local
authorities or reporting entities as the Central Government may, by
notification, specify, in this behalf.
 CHAPTER IX
RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENT FOR ASSISTANCE IN CERTAIN
MATTERS AND PROCEDURE FOR ATTACHMENT AND
CONFISCATION OF PROPERTY
55. Definitions.-In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) "contracting State" means any country or place outside India in

respect of which arrangements have been made by the Central
Government with the Government of such country through a treaty
or otherwise;
(b) "identifying" includes establishment of a proof that the property was
derived from, or used in the commission of an offence under
section 3;
(c) "tracing" means determining the nature, source, disposition,
movement, title or ownership of property.

56. Agreements with foreign countries.-(l) The Central Government may

enter into an agreement with the Government of any country outside India for-

(a) enforcing the provisions of this Act;

(b) exchange of information for the prevention of any offence under this
Act or under the corresponding law in force in that country or
investigation of cases relating to any offence under this Act,
and may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make such provisions as may be
necessary for implementing the agreement.

(2) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette,

direct that the application of this Chapter in relation to a contracting State with
which reciprocal arrangements have been made, shall be subject to such
conditions, exceptions or qualifications as are specified in the said notification.

57.Letter of request to a contracting State in certain cases.-(l)

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) if, in the course of an investigation into an offence or
other proceedings under this Act, an application is made to a Special Court by
the Investigating Officer or any officer superior in rank to the Investigating
Officer that any evidence is required in connection with investigation into an
offence or proceedings under this Act and he is of the opinion that such evidence
may be available in any place in a contracting State, and the Special Court, on
being satisfied that such evidence is required in connection with the
investigation into an offence or proceedings under this Act, may issue a letter of
request to a court or an authority in the contracting State competent to deal with
such request to-

(i) examine facts and circumstances of the case,

(ii) take such steps as the Special Court may specify in such letter of
request, and
(iii) forward all the evidence so taken or collected to the Special Court
issuing such letter of request.

(2) The letter of request shall be transmitted in such manner as the Central
Government may specify in this behalf.

(3) Every statement recorded or document or thing received under sub-

section (1) shall be deemed to be the evidence collected during the course of
investigation.

58. Assistance to a contracting State in certain cases.-Where a letter of

request is received by the Central Government from a court or authority in a
contracting State requesting for investigation into an offence or proceedings
under this Act and forwarding to such court or authority any evidence connected
therewith, the Central Government may forward such letter of request to the
Special Court or to any authority under the Act as it thinks fit for execution of
such request in accordance with the provisions of this Act or as the case may be,
any other law for the time being in force.

58A. Special Court to release the property.-Where on closure of the

criminal case or conclusion of a trial in a criminal court outside India under the
corresponding law of any other country, such court finds that the offence of
money-laundering has not taken place or the property in India is not involved
in money-laundering, the Special Court may, on an application moved by the
concerned person or the Director, after notice to the other party, order release of
such property to the person entitled to receive it.

58B. Letter of request of a contracting State or authority for

confiscation or release the property.-Where the trial under the corresponding
law of any other country cannot be conducted by reason of the death of the
accused or the accused being declared a proclaimed offender or for any other
reason or having commenced but could not be concluded, the Central Government
shall, on receipt of a letter of request from a court or authority in a contracting
State requesting for confiscation or release of property, as the case may be,
forward the same to the Director to move an application before the Special Court
and upon such application the Special Court shall pass appropriate orders
regarding confiscation or release of such property involved in the offence of
money- laundering.

59. Reciprocal arrangements for processes and assistance for transfer

of accused persons.-(l) Where a Special Court, in relation to an offence
punishable under section 4, desires that-

(a) a summons to an accused person, or

(b) a warrant for the arrest of an accused person, or
(c) a summons to any person requiring him to attend and produce a
document or other thing, or to produce a document or other thing, or
to produce it, or
(d) a search-warrant,
issued by it shall be served or executed at any place in any contracting State, it
shall send such summons or warrant in duplicate in such form, to such Court,
Judge or Magistrate through such authorities, as the Central Government may, by
notification, specify in this behalf and that Court, Judge or Magistrate, as the case
may be, shall cause the same to be executed.

(2) Where a Special Court, in relation to an offence punishable under section

4 has received for service or execution-

(a) a summons to an accused person, or

(b) a warrant for the arrest of an accused person, or
(c) a summons to any person requiring him to attend and produce a
document or other thing, or to produce it, or
(d) a search-warrant,
issued by a Court, Judge or Magistrate in a contracting State, it shall cause the
same to be served or executed as if it were a summons or warrant received by
it from another Court in the said territories for service or execution within its
local jurisdiction; and where-
(i) a warrant of arrest has been executed, the person arrested shall, be
dealt with in accordance with the procedure specified under
section 19;

(ii) a search warrant has been executed, the things found in this search
shall, so far as possible be dealt with in accordance with the
procedure specified under sections 17 and 18:

Provided that in a case where a summon or search warrant received from a

contracting State has been executed, the documents or other things produced or
things found in the search shall be forwarded to the Court issuing the summons or
search warrant through such authority as the Central Government may, by
notification, specify in this behalf.

(3) Where a person transferred to a contracting State pursuant to sub-section

(2) is a prisoner in India, the Special Court or the Central Government may impose
such conditions as that Court or Government deems fit.

(4) Where the person transferred to India pursuant to sub-section (1) is a

prisoner in a contracting State, the Special Court in India shall ensure that the
conditions subject to which the prisoner is transferred to India are complied with
and such prisoner shall be kept in such custody subject to such conditions as the
Central Government may direct in writing.

60. Attachment, seizure and confiscation, etc., of property in a

contracting State or India.-(l) Where the Director has made an order for
attachment of any property under section 5 or for freezing under sub-section (lA)
of section 17 or where an Adjudicating Authority has made an order relating to a
property under section 8 or where a Special Court has made an order of
confiscation relating to a property under sub-section (5) or sub-section (6) of
section 8, and such property is suspected to be in a contracting State, the Special
Court, on an application by the Director or the Administrator appointed under sub-
section (1) of section 10, as the case may be, may issue a letter of request to a court
or an authority in the contracting State for execution of such order.

(2) Where a letter of request is received by the Central Government from a

court or an authority in a contracting State requesting 1 attachment, seizure,
freezing or confiscation of the property in India, derived or obtained, directly or
indirectly, by any person from the commission of an offence under a
corresponding law committed in that contracting State, the Central Government
may forward such letter of request to the Director, as it thinks fit, for execution in
accordance with the provisions of this Act.

(2A) Where on closure of the criminal case or conclusion of trial in a

criminal court outside India under the corresponding law of any other country,
such court finds that the offence of money-laundering under the corresponding
law of that country has been committed, the Adjudicating Authority shall, on
receipt of an application from the Director for execution of confiscation under
sub-section (2), order, after giving notice to the affected persons, that such
property involved in money-laundering or which has been used for commission
of the offence of money-laundering stand confiscated to the Central
Government.
 (3) The Director shall, on receipt of a letter of request under section 58 or
section 59, direct any authority under this Act to take all steps necessary for
tracing and identifying such property.

(4) The steps referred to in sub-section (3) 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 institutions or any
other relevant matters.

(5) Any inquiry, investigation or survey referred to in sub-section (4) shall

be carried out by an authority mentioned in sub-section (3) in accordance with such
directions issued in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

(6) The provisions of this Act relating to attachment, adjudication,

confiscation and vesting of property in Central Government contained in
Chapter III and survey, searches and seizures contained in Chapter V shall apply to
the property in respect of which letter of request is received from a court or
contracting State for attachment or confiscation of property.
(7) When any property in India is confiscated as a result of execution of a
request from a contracting State in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the
Central Government may either return such property to the requesting State or
compensate that State by disposal of such property on mutually agreed terms
that would take into account deduction for reasonable expenses incurred in
investigation, prosecution or judicial proceedings leading to the return or
disposal of confiscated property.

61. Procedure in respect of letter of request.-Every letter of request,

summons or warrant, received by the Central Government from and every letter
of request, summons or warrant, to be transmitted to a contracting State under
this Chapter shall be transmitted to a contracting State or, as the case may be,
sent to the concerned Court in India and in such form and in such manner as the
Central Government may, by notification, specify in this behalf.
 CHAPTER X
MISCELLANEOUS
62. Punishment for vexatious search. – Any authority or officer exercising
powers under this Act or any rules made thereunder, who without reasons recorded
in writing, -

(a) searches or causes to be searches any building or place; or

(b) detains or searches or arrests any persons,
shall for every such offence be liable on conviction for imprisonment for a term
which may extend to two years or fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees
or both.

63. Punishment for false information or failure to give information, etc.-

(1) Any person wilfully and maliciously giving false information and so causing an
arrest or a search to be made under this Act shall on conviction be liable for
imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may
extend to fifty thousand rupees or both.

(2) If any person,-

(a) being legally bound to state the truth of any matter relating to an
offence under section 3, refuses to answer any question put to him by
an authority in the exercise of its powers under this Act; or
(b) refuses to sign any statement made by him in the course of any
proceedings under this Act, which an authority may legally
require to sign; or
(c) to whom a summon is issued under section 50 either to attend to give
evidence or produce books of account or other documents at a certain
place and time, omits to attend or produce books of account or
documents at the place or time,
he shall pay, by way of penalty, a sum which shall not be less than five hundred
rupees but which may extend to ten thousand rupees for each such default or
failure.

(3) No order under this section shall be passed by an authority referred to in

sub-section (2) unless the person on whom the penalty is proposed to be imposed
is given an opportunity of being heard in the matter by such authority.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (c) of sub-section (2), a

person who intentionally disobeys any direction issued under section 50 shall
also be liable to be proceeded against under section 174 of the Indian Penal Code
(45 of 1860).
 64. Cognizance of offences.-(l) No court shall take cognizance of any
offence under section 62 or sub-section (1) of section 63 except with the previous
sanction of the Central Government.
(2) The Central Government shall, by an order either give sanction or refuse
to give sanction within ninety days of the receipt of the request in this behalf.
65. Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 to apply.- The provisions of the
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) shall apply, insofar as they are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, to arrest, search and seizure,
attachment, confiscation, investigation, prosecution and all other proceedings
under this Act.
66. Disclosure of information.- The Director or any other authority
specified by him by a general or special order in this behalf may furnish or cause
to be furnished to-

(i) any officer, authority or body performing any functions under any law
relating to imposition of any tax, duty or cess or to dealings in foreign
exchange, or prevention of illicit traffic in the narcotic drugs
and psychotropic substances under the Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (61 of 1985); or
(ii) such other officer, authority or body performing functions under any
other law as the Central Government may, if in its opinion it is
necessary so to do in the public interest, specify, by notification in the
Official Gazette, in this behalf, any information received or obtained
by such Director or any other authority, specified by him in the
performance of their functions under this Act, as may, in the opinion
of the Director or the other authority, so specified by him, be
necessary for the purpose of the officer, authority or body specified
in clause (i) or clause (ii) to perform his or its functions under that
law.
67. Bar of suits in civil courts.-No suit shall be brought in any civil court to
set aside or modify any proceeding taken or order made under this Act and no
prosecution, suit or other proceeding shall lie against the Government or any
officer of the Government for anything done or intended to be done in good faith
under this Act.

68. Notice, etc., not to be invalid on certain grounds.-No notice, summons,

order, document or other proceeding, furnished or made or issued or taken or
purported to have been furnished or made or issued or taken in pursuance of any of
the provisions of this Act shall be invalid, or shall be deemed to be invalid merely
by reason of any mistake, defect or omission in such notice, summons, order,
document or other proceeding if such notice, summons, order, document or other
proceeding is in substance and effect in conformity with or according to the intent
and purpose of this Act.

69. Recovery of fine or penalty.-Where any fine or penalty imposed on

any person under section 13 or section 63 is not paid within six months from the
day of imposition of fine or penalty, the Director or any other officer authorised
by him in this behalf may proceed to recover the amount from the said person
in the same manner as prescribed in Schedule II of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43
of 1961) for the recovery of arrears and he or any officer authorised by him in
this behalf shall have all the powers of the Tax Recovery Officer mentioned in
the said Schedule for the said purpose.

70. Offences by companies.-(l) Where a person committing a

contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or of any rule, direction or
order made thereunder is a company, every person who, at the time the
contravention was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to the
company, for the conduct of the business of the company as well as the
company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the contravention and shall be liable
to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such
person liable to punishment if he proves that the contravention took place
without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent such
contravention.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where a

contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or of any rule, direction or
order made thereunder has been committed by a company and it is proved that
the contravention has taken place with the consent or connivance of, or is
attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other
officer of any company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer
shall also be deemed to be guilty of the contravention and shall be liable to be
proceeded against and punished accordingly.

Explanation 1.-For the purposes of this section,-

(i) "company" means any body corporate and includes a firm or other
association of individuals; and
(ii) "director", in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.
Explanation 2.-For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that a
company may be prosecuted, notwithstanding whether the prosecution or
conviction of any legal juridical person shall be contingent on the prosecution or
conviction of any individual.

71. Act to have overriding effect.- The provisions of this Act shall have
effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other
law for the time being in force.

72. Continuation of proceedings in the event of death or insolvency.-(l)

Where-

(a) any property of a person has been attached under section 8 and no
appeal against the order attaching such property has been preferred; or
(b) any appeal has been preferred to the Appellate Tribunal, and-

(i) in a case referred to in clause (a) such person dies or is

adjudicated an insolvent before preferring an appeal to the
Appellate Tribunal; or

(ii) in a case referred to in clause (b), such person dies or is adjudicated an

insolvent during the pendency of the appeal,
then, it shall be lawful for the legal representatives of such person or the official
assignee or the official receiver, as the case may be, to prefer an appeal to the
Appellate Tribunal or as the case may be, to continue the appeal before the
Appellate Tribunal, in place of such person and the provisions of section 26 shall,
so far as may be, apply, or continue to apply, to such appeal.

(2) Where-

(a) after passing of a decision or order by the Appellate Tribunal, no

appeal has been preferred to the High Court under section 42; or
(b) any such appeal has been preferred to the High Court, then-

(i) in a case referred to in clause (a), the person entitled to file the appeal
dies or is adjudicated an insolvent before preferring an appeal to the
High Court, or
(ii) in a case referred to in clause (b), the person who had filed the appeal
dies or is adjudicated an insolvent during the pendency of the appeal
before the High Court,
then, it shall be lawful for the legal representatives of such person, or the official
assignee or the official receiver, as the case may be, to prefer an appeal to the High
Court or to continue the appeal before the High Court in place of such person and
the provision of section 42 shall, so far as may be, apply or continue to apply to
such appeal.

(3) The powers of the official assignee or the official receiver under sub-
section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be exercised by him subject to the provisions
of the Presidency-towns Insolvency Act, 1909 (3 of 1909) or the Provincial
Insolvency Act, 1920 (5 of 1920), as the case may be.

73. Power to make rules.-(1) The Central Government may, by

notification, make rules for carrying out the provisions of this Act.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing

power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:-

(a) the form in which records referred to in this Act may be maintained; (aa)
the manner of provisional attachment of property under sub-section
(1) of section 5
(b) the manner in which the order and the material referred to in sub-
section (2) of section 5 to be maintained;
(c) matters in respect of experience of Members under sub-section (3) of
section 6;
(d) the salaries and allowances payable to the other terms and conditions
of service of Members of the Adjudicating Authority under sub-
section (9) of section 6;
(e) the salaries and allowances payable to and other terms and
conditions of service of the officers and employees of the
Adjudicating Authority under sub-section (3) of section 7;
(ee) the manner of seizing or taking possession of property attached
under section 5 or frozen under sub-section (IA) of section 17 or
under sub-section (4) of section 8;
(f) the manner in which and the conditions subject to which the
properties confiscated may be received and managed under sub-
section (2) of section 10;
(g) the additional matters in respect of which the Adjudicating Authority
may exercise the powers of a civil court under clause (f) of sub-
section (1) of section 11;
(i) the nature and value of transactions and the time within which the
information of transactions under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of
section 12 shall be furnished;
(j) the manner in which the records shall be verified and maintained by
 Banking Companies, financial institutions and intermediaries under
clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 12;
(j) the manner and the conditions in which identity of clients shall be
verified by the reporting entities under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of
section 12;
(jj)the manner of identifying beneficial owner, if any, from the clients by
the reporting entities under clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 12;
(jjj)the period of interval in which the reports are sent by the reporting
entities or any of its employees under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of
section 13;
(k)the procedure and the manner of maintaining and furnishing
information under sub-section (1) of section 12 as required under section
15;
(l)the manner in which the reasons and the material referred to in sub-
section (2) of section 16 shall be maintained;
(m)the rules relating to search and seizure under sub-section (1) of section
17;
(n)the manner in which the reasons and the material referred to in sub-
section (2) of section 17 shall be maintained;
(o)the manner in which the reasons and the material referred to in sub-
section (2) of section 18 shall be maintained;
(p)the manner in which the order and the material referred to in sub-
section (2) of section 19 shall be maintained.
(pp)the manner in which the forwarding of the order for retention or
continuation of freezing of the property and the period of keeping
such order and material under sub-section (2) of section 20;
(q)the manner in which records authenticated outside India may be
received under sub-section (2) of section 22;
(r)the form of appeal and the fee for filing such appeal, under sub-
section (3) of section 26;
(s)the salary and allowances payable to and the other terms and
conditions of service (including tenure of office) of the Chairperson
and other Members of the Appellate Tribunal under section 30;
(t)the salaries and allowances and the conditions of service of the
officers and employees of the Appellate Tribunal under sub-section
(3) of section 34;
(u)the additional matters in respect of which the Appellate Tribunal
may exercise the powers of a civil court under clause (i) of sub-
 section (2) of section 35;
(ua) conditions subject to which a police officer may be authorised to
investigate into an offence under sub-section (lA) of section 45;
(v) the additional matters in respect of which the authorities may
exercise powers of a civil court under clause (f) of sub-section (1) of
section 50;
(w) the rules relating to impounding and custody of records under sub-
section (5) of section 50;
(x) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed.

74. Rules to be laid before Parliament.-Every rule made under this Act
shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament,
while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in
one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the
session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both
Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the
rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have
effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so,
however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to
the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

75. Power to remove difficulties.-(l) If any difficulty arises in giving effect

to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order, published in
the Official Gazette, make such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act as may appear to be necessary for removing the difficulty:

Provided that no order shall be made under this section after the expiry of
two years from the commencement of this Act.

(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after
it is made, before each House of Parliament.