PREVENTION
OF CORRUPTION ACT, 1988 (Amended Upto 2019)
[Act No. 49 of 1988]
[09th September, 1988]
PREAMBLE
An Act to
consolidate and amend the law relating to the prevention of corruption and for
matters connected therewith.
BE it
enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-ninth Year of the Republic of India as
follows.
Section 1 - Short title and extent.
(1)
This Act may
be called the prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
(2)
It extends
to the whole of India [1][***]
and it applies also to all citizens of India outside India.
Section 2 ? Definitions.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise, requires,
(a)
"election"
means any election, by whatever means held under any law for the purpose of
select in members of Parliament or of any Legislature, local authority or other
public authority;
[2][(aa) "prescribed"
means prescribed by rules made under this Act and the expression
"prescribe" shall be construed accordingly;]
(b)
"Public
duty" means a duty in the discharge of which the State, the public or the
community at large ha an interest;
Explanation. In this clause "State" includes a corporation
established by or under a Central, Provincial or State Act, or an authority or
a body owned or controlled or aided by the Government or a Government company
as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);
(c)
"Public
servant" means.
(i)
any person
in the service or pay of the Government or remunerated by the Government by
fees or commission for the performance of any public duty;
(ii)
any person
in the service or pay of a local authority;
(iii)
any person
in the service or pay of a corporation established by or under a Central,
Provincial or State Act, or an authority or a body owned or controlled or aided
by the Government or a Government company as defined in section
617 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);
(iv)
any Judge,
including any person empowered by law to discharge, whether by himself or as a
member of any body of persons, any adjudicatory functions;
(v)
any person
authorised by a court of justice to perform any duty, in connection with the
administration of justice, including a liquidator, receiver or commission
appointed by such court;
(vi)
any
arbitrator or other person to whom any cause or matter has been referred for
decision or report by court of justice or by a competent public authority;
(vii)
any person
who holds an office by virtue of which he is empowered to prepare, publish,
maintain or revise an electoral roll or to conduct an election or part of an
election;
(viii)
any person
who holds an office by virtue of which he is authorised or required to perform
any public duty;
(ix)
any person
who is the president, secretary or other office-bearer of a registered co-
operative society engaged in agriculture, industry, trade or banking, receiving
or having received any financial aid from the Central Government or a State Government
or from any corporation established by or under a Central, Provincial or State
Act, or any authority or body owned or controlled or aided by the Government or
a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act,
1956 (1 of 1956);
(x)
any person
who is a chairman, member or employee of any Service Commission or Board, by
whatever name called, or a member of any selection committee appointed by such
Commission or Board for the conduct of any examination or making any selection
on behalf of such Commission or Board;
(xi)
any person
who is a Vice-Chancellor or member of any governing body, professor, reader,
lecturer or any their teacher or employee, by whatever designation called, of
any University and any person whose services have been availed of by a university
or any other public authority in connection with holding or conducting
examinations;
(xii)
any person
who is an office-bearer or an employee of an educational, scientific, social,
cultural or other institution, in whatever manner established, receiving or
having received any financial assistance from the Central Government or any
State Government, or local or other public authority.
Explanation 1. Persons falling under any of the above sub-clauses are
public servants, whether appointed by the Government or not.
Explanation 2. Wherever the words "public servant" occur, they
shall be understood of every person who is in actual possession of the
situation of a public servant, whatever legal defect there may be in his right
to hold that situation.
(d)
[3]["undue advantage"
means any gratification whatever, other than legal remuneration.
Explanation. For the purposes of this clause,
(a)
the word
"gratification" is not limited to pecuniary gratifications or to
gratifications estimable in money;
(b)
the expression
"legal remuneration" is not restricted to remuneration paid to a
public servant, but includes all remuneration which he is permitted by the
Government or the organisation, which he serves, to receive.]
Section 3 - Power to appoint special Judges.
(1)
The Central
Government or the State Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, appoint as many special Judges as may be necessary for such area or
areas or for such case or group of cases as may be specified in the
notification to try the following offences, namely.
(a)
any offence
punishable under this Act; and
(b)
any
conspiracy to commit or any attempt to commit or any abetment of any of the
offences specified in clause (a).
(2)
A person
shall not be qualified for appointment as a special Judge under this Act unless
he is or has been a Sessions Judge or an Additional Sessions Judge or an
Assistant Sessions Judge under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of
1974).
STATE AMENDMENT
[Arunachal Pradesh
[4][in Section 3
In its application to the State of Arunachal Pradesh, after the words
"Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973" the words "or a Deputy
Commissioner preferably with legal background and sufficient judicial
experience" shall be inserted.
Section 4 - Cases triable by special Judges.
(1)
Notwithstanding
anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), or in
any other law for the time being in force, the offences specified in
sub-section (1) of section 3 shall be tried by special Judges only.
(2)
Every offence
specified in sub-section (1) of section 3 shall be tried by the
special Judge for the area within which it was committed, or, as the case may
be, by the special Judge appointed for the case, or where there are more
special Judges than one for such area, by such one of them as may be specified
in this behalf by the Central Government.
(3)
When trying
any case, a special Judge may also try any offence, other than an offence
specified in section 3, with which the accused may, under the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), be charged at the same trial.
(4)
[5][Notwithstanding anything
contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), the trial of an
offence shall be held, as far as practicable, on day-to-day basis and an
endeavour shall be made to ensure that the said trial is concluded within a
period of two years:
Provided that where the trial is not concluded within the said period,
the special Judge shall record the reasons for not having done so:
Provided further that the said period may be extended by such further
period, for reasons to be recorded in writing but not exceeding six months at a
time; so, however, that the said period together with such extended period
shall not exceed ordinarily four years in aggregate.]
Section 5 - Procedure and powers of special Judge.
(1)
A special
Judge may take cognizance of offences without the accused being committed to
him for trial and, in trying the accused persons, shall follow the procedure
prescribed by the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), for the trial
of warrant case by Magistrates.
(2)
A special
Judge may, with a view to obtaining the evidence of any person supposed to have
been directly or in directly concerned in, or privy to, an offence, tender a
pardon to such person on condition of his making a full and true disclosure of
the whole circumstances within his knowledge relating to the offence and to
every other person concerned, whether as principal or abettor, in the
commission thereof and any pardon so tendered shall, for the purposes of
sub-sections (1) to(5) of section 308 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), be deemed to have been tendered under section
307 of that Code.
(3)
Save as
provided in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), the provisions of the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), shall, so far as they are not
inconsistent with this Act, apply to the proceedings before a special Judge;
and for the purposes of the said provisions, the Court of the special Judge
shall be deemed to be a Court of Session and the person conducting a
prosecution before a special Judge shall be deemed to be a public prosecutor.
(4)
In
particular and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained
in sub-section (3), the provisions of sections
326 and 457 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974),
shall, so far as may be, apply to the proceedings before a special Judge and
for the purposes of the said provisions, a special Judge shall be deemed to be
a Magistrate.
(5)
A special
Judge may pass upon any person convicted by him any sentence authorised by law
for the punishment of the offence of which such person is convicted.
(6)
A special
Judge, while trying an offence punishable, under this Act, shall exercise all
the powers and functions exercisable by a District Judge under the Criminal Law
Amendment Ordinance, 1944 (Ordinance 38 of 1944).
Section 6 - Power to try summarily.
(1)
Where a
special Judge tries any offence specified in sub-section (1) of section 3,
alleged to have been committed by a public servant in relation to the
contravention of any special order referred to in sub-section (1)
of section 12A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955) or
of an order referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (2) of that section, them,
notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) of section 5 of
this Act or section 260 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of
1974), the special Judge shall try the offence in a summary way, and the
provisions of sections 262 to 265 both inclusive) of the said Code shall, as
far as may be, apply to such trial:
Provided that, in the case of any conviction in a summary trial under
this section, it shall be lawful for the special Judge to pass a sentence of
imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year:
Provided further that when at the commencement of, or in the course of,
a summary trial under this section, it appears to the special Judge that the
nature of the case is such that a sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding
one year may have to be passed or that it is, for any other reason, undesirable
to try the case summarily, the special Judge shall, after hearing the parties,
record an order to that effect and thereafter recall any witnesses who may have
been examined and proceed to hear or re-hear the case in accordance with the
procedure prescribed by the said Code for the trial of warrant cases by
Magistrates.
(2)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Act or in the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), there shall be no appeal by a convicted person in
any case tried summarily under this section in which the special Judge passes a
sentence of imprisonment not exceeding one month, and of fine not exceeding two
thousand rupees whether or not any order under section 452 of the
said Code is made in addition to such sentence, but an appeal shall lie where
any sentence in excess of the aforesaid limits is passed by the special Judge.
Section 7 - Offence relating to public servant being bribed.
[6][7. Offence relating to public
servant being bribed
Any public servant who,
(a)
obtains or
accepts or attempts to obtain from any person, an undue advantage, with the
intention to perform or cause performance of public duty improperly or
dishonestly or to forbear or cause forbearance to perform such duty either by
himself or by another public servant; or
(b)
obtains or
accepts or attempts to obtain, an undue advantage from any person as a reward
for the improper or dishonest performance of a public duty or for forbearing to
perform such duty either by himself or another public servant; or
(c)
performs or
induces another public servant to perform improperly or dishonestly a public
duty or to forbear performance of such duty in anticipation of or in
consequence of accepting an undue advantage from any person, shall be punishable
with 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.
Explanation 1. For the purpose of this section, the obtaining,
accepting, or the attempting to obtain an undue advantage shall itself
constitute an offence even if the performance of a public duty by public
servant, is not or has not been improper.
Illustration. A public servant, 'S' asks a person, 'P' to give him
an amount of five thousand rupees to process his routine ration card
application on time. 'S' is guilty of an offence under this section.
Explanation 2. For the purpose of this section,
(i)
the
expressions "obtains" or "accepts" or "attempts to
obtain" shall cover cases where a person being a public servant, obtains
or "accepts" or attempts to obtain, any undue advantage for himself
or for another person, by abusing his position as a public servant or by using
his personal influence over another public servant; or by any other corrupt or
illegal means;
(ii)
it shall be
immaterial whether such person being a public servant obtains or accepts, or
attempts to obtain the undue advantage directly or through a third party.]
Section 7A - Taking undue advantage to influence public servant by corrupt or illegal means or by exercise of personal influence.
[7][7A. Taking undue advantage to influence public
servant by corrupt or illegal means or by exercise of personal influence
Whoever accepts or obtains or attempts to obtain from another person for
himself or for any other person any undue advantage as a motive or reward to
induce a public servant, by corrupt or illegal means or by exercise of his
personal influence to perform or to cause performance of a public duty
improperly or dishonestly or to forbear or to cause to forbear such public duty
by such public servant or by another public servant, shall be punishable with
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.]
Section 8 - Offence relating to bribing of a public servant.
[8][8. Offence relating to bribing of a public servant
(1)
Any person
who gives or promises to give an undue advantage to another person or persons,
with intention.
(i)
to induce a
public servant to perform improperly a public duty; or
(ii)
to reward
such public servant for the improper performance of public duty; shall be
punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or with
fine or with both:
Provided that the provisions of this section shall not apply where a
person is compelled to give such undue advantage:
Provided further that the person so compelled shall report the matter to
the law enforcement authority or investigating agency within a period of seven
days from the date of giving such undue advantage:
Provided also that when the offence under this section has been
committed by commercial organisation, such commercial organisation shall be
punishable with fine.
Illustration. A person, 'P' gives a public servant, 'S' an amount
of ten thousand rupees to ensure that he is granted a license, over all the
other bidders. 'P' is guilty of an offence under this sub-section.
Explanation. It shall be immaterial whether the person to whom an
undue advantage is given or promised to be given is the same person as the
person who is to perform, or has performed, the public duty concerned, and, it
shall also be immaterial whether such undue advantage is given or promised to
be given by the person directly or through a third party.
(2)
Nothing in
sub-section (1) shall apply to a person, if that person, after informing a law
enforcement authority or investigating agency, gives or promises to give any
undue advantage to another person in order to assist such law enforcement
authority or investigating agency in its investigation of the offence alleged
against the [9][later].]
Section 9 - Offence relating to bribing a public servant by a commercial organisation
[10][9. Offence relating to bribing a public servant by
a commercial organisation
(1)
Where an
offence under this Act has been committed by a commercial organisation, such
organisation shall be punishable with fine, if any person associated with such
commercial organisation gives or promises to give any undue advantage to a
public servant intending.
(a)
to obtain or
retain business for such commercial organisation; or
(b)
to obtain or
retain an advantage in the conduct of business for such commercial
organisation:
Provided that it shall be a defence for the commercial organisation to
prove that it had in place adequate procedures in compliance of such guidelines
as may be prescribed to prevent persons associated with it from undertaking
such conduct.
(2)
For the
purposes of this section, a person is said to give or promise to give any undue
advantage to a public servant, if he is alleged to have committed the offence
under section 8, whether or not such person has been prosecuted for such
offence.
(3)
For the
purposes of section 8 and this section,
(a)
"commercial
organisation" means.
(i)
a body which
is incorporated in India and which carries on a business, whether in India or
outside India;
(ii)
any other
body which is incorporated outside India and which carries on a business, or
part of a business, in any part of India;
(iii)
a
partnership firm or any association of persons formed in India and which
carries on a business whether in India or outside India; or
(iv)
any other
partnership or association of persons which is formed outside India and which
carries on a business, or part of a business, in any part of India;
(b)
"business"
includes a trade or profession or providing service;
(c)
a person is
said to be associated with the commercial organisation, if such person performs
services for or on behalf of the commercial organisation irrespective of any
promise to give or giving of any undue advantage which constitutes an offence
under sub-section (1).
Explanation 1. The capacity in which the person performs services for or
on behalf of the commercial organisation shall not matter irrespective of
whether such person is employee or agent or subsidiary of such commercial
organisation.
Explanation 2. Whether or not the person is a person who performs
services for or on behalf of the commercial organisation is to be determined by
reference to all the relevant circumstances and not merely by reference to the
nature of the relationship between such person and the commercial organisation.
Explanation 3. If the person is an employee of the commercial
organisation, it shall be presumed unless the contrary is proved that such
person is a person who has performed services for or on behalf of the
commercial organisation.
(4)
Notwithstanding
anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), the
offence under sections 7A, 8 and this section shall be cognizable.
(5)
The Central
Government shall, in consultation with the concerned stakeholders including
departments and with a view to preventing persons associated with commercial
organisations from bribing any person, being a public servant, prescribe such
guidelines as may be considered necessary which can be put in place for
compliance by such organisations.]
Section 10 - Person in charge of commercial organisation to be guilty of offence.
[11][10. Person in charge of commercial organisation to
be guilty of offence
Where an offence under section 9 is committed by a commercial
organisation, and such offence is proved in the court to have been committed
with the consent or connivance of any director, manager, secretary or other
officer shall be of the commercial organisation, such director, manager,
secretary or other officer shall be guilty of the offence and shall be liable
to be proceeded against and shall be punishable with 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.
Explanation. For the purposes of this section,
"director", in relation to a firm means a partner in the firm.]
Section 11 - Public servant obtaining undue advantage, without consideration from person concerned in proceeding or business transacted by such public servant.
11. Public servant obtaining [12][undue advantage], without consideration from
person concerned in proceeding or business transacted by such public servant
Whoever, being a public servant, accept or obtains [13][***] or attempts to obtain for himself, or for any
other person, any [14][undue advantage] without consideration, or for a
consideration which he knows to be inadequate, rom any person whom he knows to
have been, or to be, or to be likely to be concerned in any proceeding or
business transacted or about to be transacted by such public servant, or having
any connection with the [15][official functions or public duty] of himself or
of any public servant o whom he is subordinate, or from any person whom he
knows to be interested in or related to the person so concerned, shall be
punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall be not less than six months
but which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.
Section 12 - Punishment for abetment of offences.
[16][12. Punishment for abetment of offences
Whoever abets any offence punishable under this Act, whether or not that
offence is committed in consequence of that abetment, shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which [17][shall not be] less than three years, but which may
extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.]
Section 13 - Criminal, misconduct by a public servant.
[18][(1) A public servant is said to commit the offence
of criminal misconduct,
(a)
if he
dishonestly or fraudulently misappropriates or otherwise converts for his own
use any property entrusted to him or any property under his control as a public
servant or allows any other person so to do; or
(b)
if he
intentionally enriches himself illicitly during the period of his office.
Explanation 1. A person shall be presumed to have intentionally
enriched himself illicitly if he or any person on his behalf, is in possession
of or has, at any time during the period of his office, been in possession of
pecuniary resources or property disproportionate to his known sources of income
which the public servant cannot satisfactorily account for.
Explanation 2. The expression "known sources of income"
means income received from any lawful sources.]
(2) ??Any
public servant who commits criminal misconduct shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which shall be not less than [19][four years] but which may extend to [20][ten years] and shall also be liable to fine.
Section 14 - Punishment for habitual offender.
[21][14. Punishment for habitual offender
Whoever convicted of an offence under this Act subsequently commits an
offence punishable under this Act, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a
term which [22][shall not be] less than five years but which may
extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine.]
Section 15 - Punishment for attempt.
Whoever attempts to commit an offence referred to in [23][clause (a)] of sub-section (1) of section 13 shall
be punishable with imprisonment for a term [24][which shall not be less than two years but which
may extend to five years] and with fine.
Section 16 - Matters to be taken into consideration for fixing fine.
Where a sentence of fine is imposed under [25][section 7 or section 8 or section 9 or section 10
or section 11 or sub-section (2) of section 13 or section 14 or section 15],
the court in fixing the amount of the fine shall take into consideration the
amount or the value of the property, if any, which the accused person has
obtained by committing the offence or where the conviction is for an offence
referred to in [26][clause (b)] of sub-section (1) of section 13, the
pecuniary resources or property referred to in that clause for which the
accused person is unable to account satisfactorily.
Section 17 - Persons authorised to investigate.
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure,
1973 (2 of 1974), no police officer below the rank,
(a)
in the case
of the Delhi Special Police Establishment, of an Inspector of Police;
(b)
in the
metropolitan areas of Bombay, Calcutta, Madras and Ahmedabad and in any other
metropolitan area notified as such under sub-section (1) of section
8 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), of an Assistant
Commissioner of Police;
(c)
elsewhere,
of a Deputy Superintendent of Police or a police officer of equivalent rank,
shall investigate any offence punishable under this Act without the order of a
Metropolitan Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class, as the case may be,
or make any arrest therefore without a warrant:
Provided that if a police officer not below the rank of an Inspector of
Police is authorised by the State Government in this behalf by general or
special order, he may also investigate any such offence without the order of a
Metropolitan Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class, as the case may be,
or make arrest therefore without a warrant:
Provided further that an offence referred to in [27][clause (b) of sub-section (1)] of section 13 shall
not be investigated without the order of a police officer not below the rank of
a Superintendent of Police.
Section 17A - Enquiry or Inquiry or investigation of offences relatable to recommendations made or decision taken by public servant in discharge of official functions or duties.
[28][17A. Enquiry or Inquiry or investigation of
offences relatable to recommendations made or decision taken by public servant
in discharge of official functions or duties
(1)
No police
officer shall conduct any enquiry or inquiry or investigation into any offence
alleged to have been committed by a public servant under this Act, where the
alleged offence is relatable to any recommendation made or decision taken by
such public servant in discharge of his official functions or duties, without
the previous approval.
(a)
in the case
of a person who is or was employed, at the time when the offence was alleged to
have been committed, in connection with the affairs of the Union, of that
Government;
(b)
in the case
of a person who is or was employed, at the time when the offence was alleged to
have been committed, in connection with the affairs of a State, of that
Government;
(c)
in the case
of any other person, of the authority competent to remove him from his office,
at the time when the offence was alleged to have been committed:
Provided that no such approval shall be necessary for cases involving
arrest of a person on the spot on the charge of accepting or attempting to
accept any undue advantage for himself or for any other person:
Provided further that the concerned authority shall convey its decision
under this section within a period of three months, which may, for reasons to
be recorded in writing by such authority, be extended by a further period of
one month.
STATE AMENDMENT
Jammu and Kashmir
[29][Insertion of section 17B. After section 17A,
insert the following section, namely:
17B. Establishment of Anti-Corruption Bureau for
the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
(1)
Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Act, the Government of Union territory of Jammu and
Kashmir shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish a Bureau for
investigation of offences under this Act under the name of Anti-Corruption
Bureau.
(2)
The Bureau
shall consist of the Director and such other officers and staff subordinate to
him as the Government of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir may from time to
time think fit to appoint.
(3)
The
qualification of officers (other than the Director) shall be such as may be
prescribed by the Government of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir:
Provided that till qualification of officers (other than the Director)
is prescribed by the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the
rules notified by the Government in this regard under the Prevention of
Corruption Act, Samvat, 2006 (now repealed) shall continue to govern the
qualification of such officers.
(4)
The Director
and the officers and staff subordinate to him shall hold office for such term
and on such conditions as the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and
Kashmir may from time to time determine.
Explanation:-The Anti-Corruption Bureau established under the Prevention
of Corruption Act, Samvat, 2006 (now repealed) shall deemed to be
Anti-Corruption Bureau established under the provisions of this Act, as if the
same has been established under the provisions of this Act and any reference to
the Anti-Corruption Bureau in any law, order, notification or rules in force in
the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall be construed to mean the
Anti-Corruption Bureau established under the provisions of this Act.]
[30][Insertion of section 17C to 17G.After section 17A,
insert the following sections, namely:
17C. Powers of attachment of property.
(1)
If an
officer (not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police) of the
Anti-Corruption Bureau, investigating an offence committed under this Act, has
reason to believe that any property in relation to which an investigation is
being conducted has been acquired by resorting to such acts of omission and
commission which constitute an offence of criminal misconduct as defined under
section 5, he shall, with the prior approval in writing of the Director of the
Anti-Corruption Bureau, make an order seizing such property and, where it is
not practicable to seize such property, make an order of attachment directing
that such property shall not be transferred or otherwise dealt with, except
with the prior permission of the officer making such order or of the Designated
Authority to be notified by the Government of Union territory of Jammu and
Kashmir before whom the properties seized or attached are produced and a copy
of such order shall be served on the person concerned:
Provided that the Investigating Officer may, at any stage of
investigation after registration of F.I.R. in respect of any case under the Act
where he has reason to believe that such property is likely to be transferred
or otherwise dealt with to defeat the prosecution of the case direct that such
property shall not be transferred or dealt with for such period, not exceeding
ninety days, as may be specified in the order except with the prior approval of
the Designated Authority.
Explanation. For the purposes of this section, attachment shall include
temporarily assuming the custody, possession and/or control of such property].
(2)
The
Investigating officer shall inform the Designated Authority, within forty-eight
hours, of the seizure or attachment of such property together with a report of
the circumstances occasioning the seizure or attachment of such property, as
the case may be.
(3)
It shall be open
to the Designated Authority before whom the seized or attached properties are
produced either to confirm or revoke the order of seizure or attachment so
issued within [thirty days]:
Provided that an opportunity of being heard shall be afforded to the Investigating
Officer and the person whose property is being attached or seized before making
any order under this sub-section:
Provided further that till disposal of the case the Designated Authority
shall ensure the safety and protection of such property.
(4)
In the case
of immovable property attached by the Investigating Officer, it shall be deemed
to have been produced before the Designated Authority, when the Investigating
Officer notifies his report and places it at the disposal of the Designated
Authority.
(5)
Any person
aggrieved by an order under the proviso to sub-section (1) may apply to the
Designated Authority for grant of permission to transfer or otherwise deal with
such property.
(6)
The
Designated Authority may either grant, or refuse to grant, the permission to
the applicant.
(7)
The
Designated Authority, acting under the provisions of this Act, shall have all
the powers of a civil court required for making a full and fair enquiry into
the matter before it.
17D. Appeal against the order of Designated Authority.
(1)
Any person
aggrieved by an order made by the Designated Authority under sub-section (3) or
sub-section (5) of section 17C may prefer an appeal, within one month from the
date of receipt of the order, to the Special Judge and the Special Court may
either confirm the order of attachment of property or seizure so made or revoke
such order and release the property or pass such order as it may deem just and
proper within a period of sixty days.
(2)
Where any
property is seized or attached under section 17C and the Special Court is
satisfied about such seizure or attachment, it may order forfeiture of such
property, whether or not the person from whose possession it is seized or
attached is prosecuted in the Special Court for an offence under this Act.
(3)
It shall be
competent for the Special Court to make an order in respect of property seized
or attached,
(a)
directing it
to be sold if it is a perishable property and the provisions of section 459 of
the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) shall, as nearly as may be
practicable, apply to the net proceeds of such sale;
(b)
nominating
any officer of the Government, in the case of any other property, to perform
the function of the Administrator of such property subject to such conditions
as may be specified by the Special Court.
17E. Issue of show-cause notice before forfeiture
of the property.
No order under sub-section (2) of section 17D shall be made by the
Special Court
(a)
unless the
person holding or in possession of such property is given a notice in writing
informing him of the grounds on which it is proposed to forfeit such property
and such person is given an opportunity of making a representation in writing
within such reasonable time as may be specified in the notice against the
grounds of forfeiture and is also given a reasonable opportunity of being heard
in the matter;
(b)
if the
person holding or in possession of such property establishes that he is a bona
fide transferee of such property for value without knowing that such property
has been so acquired.
17F. Appeal.
(1)
Any person
aggrieved by order of the Special Court under section 17D may within one month
from the date of the receipt of such order, appeal to the High Court of Jammu
and Kashmir.
(2)
Where any
order under section 17D is modified or annulled by the High Court or where in a
prosecution instituted for the contravention of the provisions of this Act, the
person against whom an order of the special court has been made is acquitted,
such property shall be returned to him and in either case if it is not possible
for any reason to return the forfeited property, such person shall be paid the
price therefor as if the property had been sold to the Government with
reasonable interest calculated from the date of seizure of the property and
such price shall be determined in the manner prescribed.
17G. Order of forfeiture not to interfere with
other punishments.
The order of forfeiture made under this Act by the Special Court, shall
not prevent the infliction of any other punishment to which the person affected
thereby is liable under this Act.]
Section 18 - Power to inspect bankers? books.
If from information received or otherwise, a police officer has reason
to suspect the commission of an offence which he is empowered to investigate
under section 17 and considers that for the purpose of investigation or
inquiry into such offence, it is necessary to inspect any bankers' books, then
notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in
force, he may inspect any bankers' books in so far as they relate to the
accounts of the persons suspected to have committed that offence or of
any other person suspected to be holding money on behalf of such person, and
take or cause to be taken certified copies of the relevant entries there from,
and the bank concerned shall be bound to assist the police officer in the
exercise of his powers under this section:
Provided that no power under this section in relation to the accounts of
any person shall be exercised by a police officer below the rank of a Superintendent
of Police, unless he is specially authorised in this behalf by a police officer
of or above the rank of a Superintendent of Police.
Explanation. In this section, the expressions "bank" and
"bankers' books" shall have the meanings respectively assigned to
them in the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891.
[31][CHAPTER IV A Attachment and forfeiture of
property.
Section 18A - Provisions of Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance, 1944 to apply to attachment under this Act.
(1)
Save as
otherwise provided under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (15 of
2003), the provisions of the Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance, 1944 (Ord. 38 of
1944) shall, as far as may be, apply to the attachment, administration of
attached property and execution of order of attachment or confiscation of money
or property procured by means of an offence under this Act.
(2)
For the
purposes of this Act, the provisions of the Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance,
1944 (Ord. 38 of 1944) shall have effect, subject to the modification that the references
to "District Judge" shall be construed as references to "Special
Judge".]
Section 19 - Previous sanction necessary for prosecution.
(1)
No court
shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under [32][sections 7, 11, 13 and 15] alleged to have been committed
by a public servant, except with the previous sanction [33][save as otherwise provided in the Lokpal and
Lokayuktas Act, 2013],
(a)
in the case
of a person [34][who is employed, or as the case may be, was at the
time of commission of the alleged offence employed] in connection with the
affairs of the Union and is not removable from his office save by or with the
sanction of the Central Government, of that Government;
(b)
in the case
of a person [35][who is employed, or as the case may be, was at the
time of commission of the alleged offence employed] in connection with the
affairs of a State and is not removable from his office save by or with the
sanction of the State Government, of that Government;
(c)
in the case
of any other person, of the authority competent to remove him from his office.
[36][Provided that no request can be made, by a person
other than a police officer or an officer of an investigation agency or other
law enforcement authority, to the appropriate Government or competent
authority, as the case may be, for the previous sanction of such Government or
authority for taking cognizance by the court of any of the offences specified
in this sub-section, unless.
(i)
such person
has filed a complaint in a competent court about the alleged offences for which
the public servant is sought to be prosecuted; and
(ii)
the court
has not dismissed the complaint under section 203 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) and directed the complainant to obtain the sanction
for prosecution against the public servant for further proceeding:
Provided further that in the case of request from the person other than
a police officer or an officer of an investigation agency or other law
enforcement authority, the appropriate Government or competent authority shall
not accord sanction to prosecute a public servant without providing an
opportunity of being heard to the concerned public servant:
Provided also that the appropriate Government or any competent authority
shall, after the receipt of the proposal requiring sanction for prosecution of
a public servant under this sub-section, endeavour to convey the decision on
such proposal within a period of three months from the date of its receipt:
Provided also that in case where, for the purpose of grant of sanction
for prosecution, legal consultation is required, such period may, for the
reasons to be recorded in writing, be extended by a further period of one
month:
Provided also that the Central Government may, for the purpose of
sanction for prosecution of a public servant, [37][prescribe] such guidelines as it considers
necessary.
Explanation. For the purposes of sub-section (1), the expression
"public servant" includes such person.
(a)
who has
ceased to hold the office during which the offence is alleged to have been
committed; or
(b)
who has
ceased to hold the office during which the offence is alleged to have been
committed and is holding an office other than the office during which the
offence is alleged to have been committed?]
(2)
Where for
any reason whatsoever any doubt arises as to whether the previous sanction as
required under sub-section (1) should be given by the Central Government or the
State Government or any other authority, such sanction shall be given by that
Government or authority which would have been competent to remove the public
servant from his office at the time when the offence was alleged to have been
committed.
(3)
Notwithstanding
anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974),
(a)
no finding,
sentence or order passed by a special Judge shall be reversed or altered by a
Court in appeal, confirmation or revision on the ground of the absence of, or
any error, omission or irregularity in, the sanction required under sub-section
(1), unless in the opinion of that court, a failure of justice has in fact been
occasioned thereby;
(b)
no court
shall stay the proceedings under this Act on the ground of any error, omission
or irregularity in the sanction granted by the authority, unless it is
satisfied that such error, omission or irregularity has resulted in a failure
of justice;
(c)
no court
shall stay the proceedings under this Act on any other ground and no court
shall exercise the powers of revision in relation to any interlocutory order
passed in any inquiry, trial, appeal or other proceedings.
(4)
In determining
under sub-section (3) whether the absence of, or any error, omission or
irregularity in, such sanction has occasioned or resulted in a failure of
justice the court shall have regard to the fact whether the objection could and
should have been raised at any earlier stage in the proceedings.
Explanation. For the purposes of this section,
(a)
error
includes competency of the authority to grant sanction;
(b)
a sanction
required for prosecution includes reference to any requirement that the
prosecution shall be at the instance of a specified authority or with the
sanction of a specified person or any requirement of a similar nature.
[STATE AMENDMENTS
[Uttar Pradesh
[38][In Section 19
In sub-section (1), after clause (c), the following clause shall be
inserted, namely.
"(d) Notwithstanding anything contained in
clause (c), the State Government may, where it Considers necessary so to do,
require the authority referred to in clause (c), to give previous sanction
within the period specified in this behalf and if the said authority fails to
give the previous sanction within such period, the previous sanction may be
given by the State Government.
Explanation: -
(1)
For the
purposes of this clause "authority" does not include any authority
under the control of the Central Government.
(2)
For removal
of doubts it is hereby declared that the power of the State Government under
this clause may be exercised also in a case where the authority referred to in
clause (c) has earlier refused to give the previous sanction."]
Section 20 - Presumption where public servant accepts any undue advantage.
[39][20. Presumption where public servant accepts any undue advantage
Where, in any trial of an offence
punishable under section 7 or under section 11, it is proved that a public
servant accused of an offence has accepted or obtained or attempted to obtain
for himself, or for any other person, any undue advantage from any person, it
shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that he accepted or obtained
or attempted to obtain that undue advantage, as a motive or reward under
section 7 for performing or to cause performance of a public duty improperly or
dishonestly either by himself or by another public servant or, as the case may
be, any undue advantage without consideration or for a consideration which he
knows to be inadequate under section 11.]
Section 21 - Accused person to be a competent witness.
Any person charged with an
offence punishable under this Act, shall be a competent witness for the defence
and may give evidence on oath in disproof of the charges made against him or
any person charged together with him at the same trial:
Provided that.
(a)
he shall not
be called as a witness except at his own request;
(b)
his failure
to give evidence shall not be made the subject of any comment by the
prosecution or give rise to any presumption against himself or any person
charged together with him at the same trial;
(c)
he shall not
be asked, and if asked shall not be required to answer, any question tending to
show that he has committed or been convicted of any offence other than the
offence with which he is charged, or is of bad character, unless.
(i)
the proof
that he has committed or been convicted of such offence is admissible evidence
to show that he is guilty of the offence with which he is charged, or
(ii)
he has
personally or by his pleader asked any question of any witness for the
prosecution with a view to establish his own good character, or has given
evidence of his good character, or the nature or conduct of the defence is such
as to involve imputations on the character of the prosecutor or of any witness
for the prosecution, or
(iii)
he has given
evidence against any other person charged with the same offence.
Section 22 - The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 to apply subject certain modifications.
The provisions of the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), shall in their application to any
proceeding in relation to an offence punishable under this Act have effect as
if,
(a)
in
sub-section (1) of section 243, for the words "The accused shall then be
called upon", the words "The accused shall then be required to give
in writing at once or within such time as the Court may allow, a list of the
persons (if any) whom he proposes to examine as his witnesses and of the
documents (if any) on which he proposes to rely and he shall then be called
upon" had been substituted;
(b)
in
sub-section (2) of section 309, after the third proviso, the following proviso
had been inserted, namely.
"Provided also that the
proceeding shall not be adjourned or postponed merely on the ground that an
application under section 397 has been made by a party to the
proceeding.";
(c)
after
sub-section (2) of section 317, the following sub-section had been inserted,
namely.
"(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or
section (2), the Judge may, if he thinks fit and for reasons to be recorded by
him, proceed with enquiry or trial in the absence of the accused or his pleader
and record the evidence of any witness subject to the right of the accused to
recall the witness for cross-examination.?;
(d)
in
sub-section (1) of section 397, before the Explanation, the following proviso
had been inserted, namely.
"Provided that where the
powers under this section are exercised by a Court on an application made by a
arty to such proceedings, the Court shall not ordinarily call for the record of
the proceedings.
(a)
without
giving the other party an opportunity of showing cause why the record should
not be called for; or
(b)
if it is
satisfied that an examination of the record of the proceedings may be made from
the certified
copies.".
Section 23 - Particulars in a charge in relation to an offence under section 13 (1) (A).
23. Particulars in a charge in
relation to an offence under [40][section 13 (1) (A)]
Notwithstanding anything
contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), when an accused
is charged with an offence under [41][clause (a)] of sub-section (1) of section 13, it shall be
sufficient to describe in the charge the property in respect of which the
offence is alleged to have been committed and the dates between which the
offence is alleged to have been committed, without specifying particular items
or exact dates, and the charge so framed shall be deemed to be a charge of one
offence within the meaning of section 219 of the said Code:
Provided that the time included
between the first and last of such dates shall not exceed one year.
Section 24 - [Omitted]
[42][***]
Section 25 - Military, Naval and Air Force or other law not to be affected.
(1)
Nothing in
this Act shall affect the jurisdiction exercisable by, or the procedure
applicable to, any court or other authority under the Army Act, 1950 (45 of
1950), the Air Force Act, 1950 (46 of 1950), the Navy Act, 1957 (62 of 1957),
the Border Security Force Act, 1968 (47 of 1968), the Coast Guard Act, 1978 (30
of 1978) and the National Security Guard Act, 1986 (47 of 1986).
(2)
For the
removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that for the purposes of any such law
as is referred to in sub-section (1), the court of a special Judge shall be
deemed to be a court of ordinary criminal justice.
Section 26 - Special Judges appointed under Act 46 of 1952 to be special Judges appointed under this Act.
Every
special Judge appointed under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1952 for any area
or areas and is holding office on the commencement of this Act shall be deemed
to be a special Judge appointed under section 3 of this Act for that
area or areas and, accordingly, on and from such commencement, every such Judge
shall continue to deal with all the proceedings pending before him on such
commencement in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
Section 27 - Appeal and revision.
Subject to
the provisions of this Act, the High Court may exercise, so far as they may be
applicable, all the powers of appeal and revision conferred by the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) on a High Court as if the court of the
special Judge were a court of Session trying cases within the local limits of
the High Court.
Section 28 - Act to be in addition to any other law.
The
provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any
other law for the time being in force, and nothing contained herein shall
exempt any public servant from any proceeding which might, apart from this Act,
be instituted against him.
Section 29 - Amendment of Ordinance 38 of 1944.
In the
Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance, 1944,
(a)
in
sub-section (1) of section 3, sub-section (1) of section 9, clause (a) of
section 10, sub-section (1) of section 11 and sub-section (1) of section 13,
for the words ?State Government", wherever they occur, the words
"State Government or, as the case may be, the Central Government"
shall be substituted;
(b)
in section
10, in clause (a), for the words "three months", the words "one
year" shall be substituted;
(c)
in the
Schedule,
(i)
paragraph 1
shall be omitted;
(ii)
in
paragraphs 2 and 4,
(a)
after the
words "a local authority", the words and figures "or a
corporation established by or under a Central, Provincial or State Act,
or an authority or a body owned or controlled or aided by Government or a
Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act,
1956 (1 of 1956) or a society aided by such corporation, authority, body or
Government company" shall be inserted;
(b)
after the
words "or authority", the words "or corporation or body or
Government company or society" shall be inserted;
(iii)
for
paragraph 4A, the following paragraph shall be substituted, namely.
"4A. An offence punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act,
1988.";
(iv)
in paragraph
5, for the words and figures "items 2, 3 and 4", the words, figures
and letter "items 2, 3, 4 and 4A" shall be substituted.
Section 29A - Power to make rules.
[43][29A. Power to make rules
(1)
The Central
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, 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)
guidelines
which can be put in place by commercial organisation under section 9;".
(b)
guidelines
for sanction of prosecution under sub-section (1) of section 19;".
(c)
any other
matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed.
(3)
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.]
Section 30 - Repeal and saving.
(1)
The
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 (2 of 1947) and the Criminal Law Amendment
Act, 1952 (46 of 1952) are hereby repealed.
(2)
Notwithstanding
such repeal, but without prejudice to the application of section 6 of
the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897), anything done or any action taken
or purported to have been done or taken under or in pursuance of the Acts so
repealed shall, in so far as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act, be deemed to have been done or taken under or in pursuance of the
corresponding provision of this Act.
Section 31 - Omission of certain sections of Act 45 of 1860 [REPEALED]
[44]31. Omission of certain Section of Act 45 of 1860
Sections 161
to 165A (both inclusive) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860) shall be
omitted, and section 6 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897),
shall apply to such omission as if the said sections had been repealed by a
Central Act.
Statement of
Objects and Reasons - PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION ACT, 1988
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
1.
The Bill is
intended to make the existing anti-corruption laws more effective by widening
their coverage and by strengthening the provisions.
2.
The
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, was amended in 1964 based on the
recommendations of the Santhanam Committee. There are provisions in Chapter IX
of the Indian Penal Code to deal with public servants and those who abet them
by way of criminal misconduct. There are also provisions in the Criminal Law
Amendment Ordinance, 1944, to enable attachment of ill-gotton wealth obtained
through corrupt means, including from transferees of such wealth. The Bill
seeks to incorporate all these provisions with modifications so as to make the
provisions more effective in combating corruption among pubic servants.
3.
The Bill,
inter alia, envisages widening the scope of the definition of the expression
"public servant". incorporation of offences under sections 161 to
163A of the Indian Penal Code, enhancement of penalties provided for these
offences and incorporation of a provision that the order of the trial court
upholding the grant of sanction for prosecution would be final if it has not already
been challenged and the trial has commenced. In order to expedite the
proceedings, provisions for day-to-day trial of cases and prohibitory
provisions with regard to grant of stay and exercise of powers of revision on
interlocutory orders have also been included.
4.
Since the
provisions of sections 161 to 165A are incorporated in the proposed legislation
with an enhanced punishment, it is not necessary to retain those sections in
the Indian Penal Code. Consequently, it is proposed to delete those sections
with the necessary saving provision.
5.
The notes on
clauses explain in detail the provisions of the Bill.
[1] Omitted by Jammu And Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, w.e.f.
31.10.2019 the previous text was.
"except
the State of Jammu and Kashmir"
[2] Inserted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018.
[3] Inserted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018.
[4] Inserted By Arunachal Pradesh Prevention of Corruption (Amendment)
Act 1989.
[5] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following :-
"(4)
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure,
1973 (2 of 1974), a special Judge shall, as far as practicable, hold the
trial of an offence on day-to-day basis."
[6] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following :-
"7. Public servant taking gratification other than legal
remuneration in respect of an official Act
Whoever,
being, or expecting to be a public servant, accepts or obtains or agrees to
accept or attempts to obtain from any person, for himself or for any other
person, any gratification whatever, other than legal remuneration, as a motive
or reward for doing or forbearing to do any official act or for showing or
forbearing to show, in the exercise of his official functions, favour or
disfavour to any person or for rendering or attempting to render any service or
disservice to any person, with the Central Government or any State Government
or Parliament or the Legislature of any State or with any local authority,
corporation or Government company referred to in clause (c) of section 2, or
with any public servant, whether named or otherwise, shall be punishable with
imprisonment which shall be not less than [three years] but which may
extend to [seven years] and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation.
(a)
"Expecting to be a public servant." If a person not expecting to be
in office obtains a gratification by deceiving others into a belief that he is
about to be in office, and that he will when serve them, be may be guilty of
cheating, but he is not guilty of the offence defined in this section.
(b)
"Gratification." The word ?gratification" is not restricted to
pecuniary gratifications or to gratifications estimable in money.
(c)
"Legal remuneration." The words "legal remuneration" are
not restricted to remuneration which a public servant can lawfully demand, but
include all remuneration which he is permitted by the Government or the
organisation, which he serves, to accept.
(d) "A
motive or reward for doing." A person who receives a gratification as a
motive or reward for doing what he does not intend or is not in a position to
do, or has not done, comes within this expression.
(e) Where a
public servant induces a person erroneously to believe that his influence with
the Government has obtained a title for that person and thus induces that
person to give the public servant, money or any other gratification as a reward
for this service, the public servant has committed an offence under this
section."
[7] Inserted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018.
[8] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following :-
"8. Taking gratification, in order, by corrupt or illegal means, to
influence public servant
Whoever
accepts or obtains, or agrees to accept, or attempts to obtain, from any
person, for himself or for any other person, any gratification whatever as a
motive or reward for inducing, by corrupt or illegal means, any public servant,
whether named or otherwise, to do or to forbear to do any official act, or in
the exercise of the official functions of such public servant to show favour or
disfavour to any person, or to render or attempt o render any service or
disservice to any person with the Central Government or any State Government or
Parliament or the Legislature of any State or with any local authority,
corporation or Government company referred to in clause (c) of section 2, or
with any public servant, whether named or otherwise, shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which shall be not less than [three years] but
which may extend to [seven years] and shall also be liable to fine."
[9] Corrected by Corrigenda, dated 1st August, 2018, for "latter".
[10] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following :-
"9. Taking gratification, for exercise of personal influence with
public servant
Whoever
accepts or obtains, or agrees to accept, or attempts to obtain, from any
person, for himself or for any other person, any gratification whatever as a
motive or reward for inducing, by the exercise of personal influence, any
public servant, whether named or otherwise, to do or to forbear to do any
official act, or in the exercise of the official functions of such public
servant to show favour or disfavour to any person, or to render or attempt to
render any service or disservice to any person with the Central Government or
any State Government or Parliament or the Legislature of any State or with any
local authority, corporation or Government company referred to in clause (c) of
section 2, or with any public servant, whether named or otherwise, shall be
punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall be not less
than [three years] but which may extend to [seven years] and shall
also be liable to fine."
[11] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following :-
"Punishment for abetment by public servant of offences defined in
section 8 or 9
Whoever,
being a public servant, in respect of whom either of the offences defined in
section 8 or section 9 is committed, abets the offence, whether or not that
offence is committed in consequence of that abetment, shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which shall be not less than six months but which may
extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine."
[12] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following.
"
valuable thing"
[13] Omitted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 the previous text was.
"or
agrees to accept"
[14] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following.
" valuable
thing"
[15] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following.
"official
functions"
[16] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 w.e.f.
26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated 26.07.2018 for the following.
"12. Punishment for abetment of offences defined in section 7 or 11
Whoever
abets any offence punishable under section 7or section 11 whether or not that
offence is committed in consequence of that abetment, shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which shall be not less than [three years] but
which may extend to [seven years] and shall also be liable to five."
[17] Corrected by Corrigenda, dated 1st August 2018, for "shall be
not".
[18] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following.
"(1) A
public servant is said to commit the offence of criminal misconduct,
(a) if he
habitually accepts or obtains or agrees to accept or attempts to obtain from
any person for himself or for any other person for himself or for any other
person any gratification other than legal remuneration as active or reward such
as is mentioned in section 7; or
(b) if he
habitually accepts or obtains or agrees to accept or attempts to obtain for
himself or for any other person, any valuable thing without consideration or
for a consideration which he knows to be inadequate from any person whom he
knows to have been, or to be, or to be likely to be concerned in any
proceedings or business transacted or about to be transacted by him, or having
any connection with the official functions of himself or of any public servant
to whom he is subordinate, or from any person whom he knows to be interested in
or related to the person so concerned; or
(c) if he
dishonestly or fraudulently misappropriates or otherwise converts for his own
use any property entrusted to him or under his control as a public servant or
allows any other person so to do; or
(d) if he,
(i) by
corrupt or illegal means, obtains for himself or for any other person any
valuable thing or pecuniary advantage; or
(ii) by
abusing his position as a public servant, obtains for himself or for any other
person any valuable thing or pecuniary advantage; or
(iii) while
holding office as a public servant, obtains for any person any valuable thing
or pecuniary advantage without any public, interest; or
(e) if he or
any person on his behalf, is in possession or has, at any time during the
period of his office, been in possession for which the public servant cannot
satisfactorily account, of pecuniary resources or property disproportionate to
his known sources of income.
Explanation.
For the purposes of this section, "known sources of income" means
income received from any lawful source and such receipt has been intimated in
accordance with the provisions of any law, rules or orders for the time being
applicable to a public servant."
[19] Substituted by the Lokpal And Lokayuktas Act, 2013, (w.e.f.
16-1-2014),for the following.
"one
year"
[20] Substituted by the Lokpal And Lokayuktas Act, 2013, (w.e.f.
16-1-2014), for the following.
"seven
years"
[21] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following.
"14. Habitual committing of offence under sections 8, 9 and 12
Whoever
habitually commits.
(a) an
offence punishable under section 8 or section 9; or
(b) an
offence punishable under section 12,
shall be
punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall be not less than [five
years] but which may extend to [ten years] and shall also be liable to
fine."
[22] Corrected by corrigenda, dated 1st August, 2018, for "shall be
not"
[23] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following.
"clause
(c) or clause (d)"
[24] Substituted by the Lokpal And Lokayuktas Act, 2013, w.e.f.
16-1-2014, for the following.
"which
may extend to three years"
[25] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following :-
"sub-section
(2) of section 13 or section 14"
[26] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following :-
"clause
(e)"
[27] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following :-
"clause
(e) of sub-section (1)"
[28] Inserted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018.
[29] Vide the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Adaptation of Central Laws)
Order, 2020, Order No. SO1123(E), dated 18.03.2020..
[30] Vide the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Adaptation of Central Laws)
Order, 2020, Order No. SO1123(E), dated 18.03.2020..
[31] Inserted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018.
[32] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following.
"sections
7, 10, 11, 13 and 15"
[33] Inserted by the Lokpal And Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
[34] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 w.e.f.
26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated 26.07.2018 for the
following.
"who is
employed"
[35] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following.
"who is
employed"
[36] Inserted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018.
[37] Corrected by Corrigenda, dated 1st August, 2018, for
"presecribe".
[38] Inserted by Prevention of Corruption (Uttar Pradesh Amendment) Act,
1991.
[39] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following.
"20.
Presumption where public servant accepts gratification other than legal
remuneration
(1) Where,
in any trial of an offence punishable under section 7 or section 11 or clause
(a) or clause (b) or sub-section (1) of section 13 it is proved that an accused
person has accepted or obtained or has agreed to accept or attempted to obtain
for himself, or for any other person, any gratification (other than legal
remuneration) or any valuable thing from any person, it shall be presumed,
unless the contrary is proved, that he accepted or obtained or agreed to accept
or attempted to obtain that gratification or that valuable thing, as the case
may be, as a motive or reward such as is mentioned in section 7 or, as the case
may be, without consideration or for a consideration which he knows to be
inadequate.
(2) Where in
any trial of an offence punishable under section 12 or under clause (b) of
section 14, it is proved that any gratification (other than legal remuneration)
or any valuable thing has been given or offered to be given or attempted to be
given by an accused person, it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is
proved, that he gave or offered to give or attempted to give that gratification
or that valuable thing, as the case may be, as a motive or reward such as is
mentioned in section 7, or, as the case may be, without consideration or for a
consideration which he knows to be inadequate.
(3)
Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) and (2), the court may
decline to draw the presumption referred to in either of the said sub-sections,
if the gratification or thing aforesaid is, in its opinion, so trivial that no
interference of corruption may fairly be drawn."
[40] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following :-
" section 13 (1) (c)"
[41] Substituted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 for the following :-
"clause
(c)"
[42] Omitted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018 the previous text was :-
"24. Statement by bribe giver not to subject him to prosecution
Notwithstanding
anything contained in any law for the time being in force, a statement made by
a person in any proceeding against a public servant for an offence under
sections 7 to 11 or under section 13 or section 15, that he offered or agreed
to offer any gratification (other than legal remuneration) or any valuable
thing to the public servant, shall not subject such person to a prosecution
under section 12."
[43] Inserted by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act,
2018 w.e.f. 26.07.2018 Vide Notification No. SO3664(E) dated
26.07.2018.
[44] Repealed by Act 30 of 2001, sec. 2 and First Schedule (w.e.f. 3-9-2001).