SMUGGLERS AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE MANIPULATORS (FORFEITURE OF PROPERTY) ACT, 1976 (Amended Upto 2021)

[Act, No. 13 of 1976]

PREAMBLE

An Act to provide for the forfeiture of illegally acquired properties of smugglers and foreign exchange manipulators and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

WHEREAS for the effective prevention of smuggling activities and foreign exchange manipulations which are having a deleterious effect on the national economy it is necessary to deprive persons engaged in such activities and manipulations of their ill-gotten gains;

AND WHEREAS such persons have been augmenting such gains by violations of wealth-tax, income-tax or other laws or by other means and have thereby been increasing their resources for operating in a clandestine manner;

AND WHEREAS such persons have in many cases been holding the properties acquired by them through such gains in the names of their relatives, associates and confidants;

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twenty-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-

Section 1 - Short title, extent and commencement

(1)     This Act maybe called the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfei?ture of Property) Act, 1976.

(2)     It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

(3)     It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 5th day of November, 1975.

Section 2 - Application

(1)     The provisions of this Act shall apply only to the persons specified in sub-section (2).

(2)     The persons referred to in sub-section (1) are the following namely:-

(a)      every person-

(i)       who has been convicted under the Sea Customs Act, 1878 (8 of 1878), or the Customs Act, 962 (52 of 1962), of an offence in relation to goods of a value exceeding one lakh of rupees; or

(ii)      who has been convicted under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 (7 of 1947), or the Foreign Ex?change Regulation Act, 1973 (46 of 1973), of an offence, the amount or value involved in which exceeds one lakh of rupees; or

(iii)     who having been convicted under the Sea Customs Act, 1878 (8 of 1878), or the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), has been convicted subsequently under either of those Acts; or

(iv)    who having been convicted under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 (7 of 1947), or the Foreign Ex?change Regulation Act, 1973 (46 of 1973), has been convicted subsequently under either of those Acts;

(b)      every person in respect of whom an order of detention has been made under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (52 of 1974)

Provided that-

(i)       such order of detention, being an order to which the provisions of section 9 or section 12A of the said Act do not apply, has not been revoked on the report of the Advisory Board under section 8 of the said Act or before the receipt of the report of the Advisory Board or before making a reference to the Advisory Board; or

(ii)      such order of detention, being an order to which the provisions of section 9 of the said Act apply, has not been revoked before the expiry of the time for, or on the basis of the review under sub-section (3) of section 9, or on the report of the Advisory Board under section 8, read with sub-section (2) of section 9, of the said Act; or

(iii)     such order of detention, being an order to which the provisions of section 12A of the said Act apply, has not been revoked before the expiry of the time for, or on the basis of, the first review under sub-section (3) of that section, or on the basis of the report of the Advisory Board under section 8, read with sub-section (6) of section 12A, of that Act; or

(iv)    such order of detention has not been set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction;

(c)      every person who is a relative of a person referred to in clause (a) or clause (b);

(d)      every associate of a person referred to in clause (a) or clause (b);

(e)      any holder (hereafter in this clause referred to as the present older) of any property which was at any time previously held by a person referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) unless the present holder or, as the case may be, any one who held such property after such person and before the present holder, is or was a transferee in good faith for adequate consideration.

Explanation 1.-For the purposes of sub-clause (i) of clause (a), the value of any goods in relation to which a person has been convicted of an offence shall be the wholesale price of the goods in the ordinary course of trade in India as on the date of the commission of the offence.

Explanation 2.-For the purposes of clause (c), "relative", in relation to a person, means-

(i)       spouse of the person;

(ii)      brother or sister of the person;

(iii)     brother or sister of the spouse of the person;

(iv)    any lineal ascendant or descendant of the person;

(v)      any lineal ascendant or descendant of the spouse of the person;

(vi)    spouse of a person referred to in clause (ii), clause (iii) clause (iv) or clause (v);

(vii)   any lineal descendant of a person referred to in clause (ii) or clause (iii);

Explanation 3.-For the purposes of clause (d), "associate", in relation to a person, means-

(i)       any individual who had been or is residing in the residential premises (including out-houses) of such person;

(ii)      any individual who had been or is managing the affairs or keeping the accounts of such person;

(iii)     any association of persons, body of individuals, partnership firm, or private company within the meaning of the Companies Act, 1956(1 of 1956), of which such person had been or is a member, partner or director;

(iv)    any individual who had been or is a member, partner or director of an association of persons, body of individuals, partnership firm, or private company within the meaning of the Companies when such person had been or is a member, partner or director of such association body, partnership firm or private company;

(v)      any person who had been or is managing the affairs, or keeping the accounts, of an association of persons, body of individuals, partnership firm or private company referred to in clause (iii);

(vi)    the trustee of any trust, where,-

(a)      the trust has been created by such person; or

(b)      the value of the assets contributed by such person (including the value of the assets if any, contributed by not less than twenty per cent, of the value of the assets of the trust on that date;

(vii)   where the competent authority, for reasons to be recorded in writing, considers that any properties of such person are held on his behalf by any other person, such other person.

Explanation 4.- For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby provided that the question whether any person is a person to whom the provisions of this Act apply may be determined with reference to any facts, circum?stances or events (including any conviction or detention) which occurred or took place before the commencement of this Act.

Section 2A - [Omitted]

[1][***]

Section 3 - Definitions

(1)     In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a)      "Appellate Tribunal" means the Appellate Tribunal [2][***] constituted under section 12;

(b)      "competent authority" means an officer of the Central Government authorized by it under sub-section (1) of section 5 to perform the functions of a competent authority under this Act;

(c)      "illegally acquired property, in relation to any person to whom this Act applies, means-

(i)       any property acquired by such person, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, wholly or partly out of or by means of any income, earnings or assets derived or obtained from or attributable to any activity prohibited by or under any law for the time being in force relating to any matter in respect of which Parliament has power to make laws; or

(ii)      any property acquired by such person, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, wholly or partly out of or by means of any income, earning or assets in respect of which any such law has been contravened ; or

(iii)     any property acquired by such person, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, wholly or partly out of or by means of any income, earnings or assets the source of which cannot be proved and which cannot be shown to be attributable to any act or thing done in respect of any matter in relation to which Parliament has no power to make laws; or

(iv)    any property acquired by such person, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, for a consideration, or by any means, wholly or partly traceable to any property referred to in sub-clauses (i) to (iii) or the income or earnings from such property and includes-

(A)     any property held by such person which would have been, in relation to any previous holder thereof, illegally acquired property under this clause if such previ?ous holder had not ceased to hold it, unless such person or any other person who held the property at any time after such previous holder or, where there are two or more such previous holders the last of such previous holders is or was a transferee in good faith for adequate consideration;

(B)     any property acquired by such person, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, for a consideration, or by any means, wholly or partly traceable to any property falling under item (A), or the income or earnings therefrom;

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

(e)      "property" includes any interest in property, movable immovable;

(f)       "trust" includes any other legal obligation.

(2)     Any reference in this Act to any law which is not in force in any areas shall, in relation to that area, be construed as a reference to the corresponding law, if any, in force in that area.

(3)     Any reference in this Act to any officer or authority shall, in relation to any area in which there is no officer or authority with the same designation, be construed as a reference to such officer or authority as may be specified by the Central Government by notifica?tion in the Official Gazette.

Section 4 - Prohibition of holding illegally acquired property

(1)     As from the commencement of this Act, it shall not be lawful for any person to whom this Act applies to hold any illegally acquired property either by himself or through any other person on his behalf.

(2)     Where any person holds any illegally acquired property in contravention of the provision of sub-section (1), such property shall be liable to be forfeited to the Central Government in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

Section 5 - Competent authority

(1)     The Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, authorize as many officers of the Central Government (not below the rank of a Joint Secretary to the Government), as it thinks fit, to perform the functions of the competent authority under this Act.

(2)     The competent authorities shall perform their functions in respect of such persons or classes of persons as the Central Government may, by order, direct.

Section 6 - Notice of forfeiture

(1)     If, having regard to the value of the properties held by any person to whom this act applies, either by himself or through any other person on his behalf, his known sources of income, earnings or assets, any other information or material available to it as a result of action taken under section 18 or otherwise, the competent authority has reason to believe (the reasons for such belief to be recorded in writing) that all or any of such properties are illegally acquired properties, it may serve a notice upon such person (hereinafter referred to as the person affected) calling upon him within such time as may be specified in the notice, which shall not be ordinarily less than thirty days, to indicate the sources of his income, earnings or assets, out of which or by means of which he has acquired such property, the evidence on which he relies and other relevant information and particulars, and to show cause why all or any of such properties as the case may be should not be declared to be illegally acquired properties and forfeited to the Central Government under this Act.

(2)     Whereas notice under sub-section (1) to any person specifies any property as being held on behalf of such person by any other person, a copy of the notice shall also be served upon such other person.

Section 7 - Forfeiture of property in certain cases

(1)     The competent authority may, after considering the explanation, if any, to the show cause notice issued under section 6, and the materials available before it and after giving to the person affected (and in a case where the person affected holds any property specified in the notice through any other person, to such other person also) a reasonable opportunity of being heard, by order, record a finding whether all or any of the properties in question are illegally acquired properties.

(2)     Where the competent authority is satisfied that some of the properties referred to in the show cause notice are illegally acquired properties but is not able to identity specifically such properties, then it shall be lawful for the competent authority to specify the properties which, to the best of its judgment, are illegally acquired properties and record a finding accordingly under sub-section (1).

(3)     Where the competent authority records a finding under this section to the effect that any property is illegally acquired property, it shall declare that such property shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, stand forfeited to the Central Government free from all encumbrances.

(4)     Where any shares in a company stand forfeited to the Central Government under this Act then, the company shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), or the articles of association of the company, forthwith register the Central Government as the transferee of such shares.

Section 8 - Burden of proof

any proceedings under this Act, the burden of proving that any property specified in the notice served under section 6 is not illegally acquired property shall be on the person affected.

Section 9 - Fine in lieu of forfeiture

(1)     Where the competent authority makes a declaration that any property stands forfeited to the Central Government under section 7 and it is a case where the source of only a part, being less than one-half, of the income, earnings or assets with which such property was acquired has not been proved to the satisfac?tion of the competent authority, it shall make an order giving an option to the person affected to pay, in lieu of forfeiture, a fine equal to one and one fifth times the value of such part.

Explanation.-For the purposes of this sub-section, the value of any part of income, earnings, assets, with which any property has been acquired, shall be-

(a)      in the case of any part of income or earnings, the amount of such part of income or earnings;

(b)      in the case of any part of assets, the proportionate part of the full value of the consideration for the acquisition of such assets.

(2)     Before making an order imposing a fine under sub-section (1), the person affected shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

(3)     Where the person affected pays the fine due under sub-section (1), within such time as may be allowed in that behalf, the competent authority, may by order, revoke the declaration of forfeiture under section 7 and thereupon such property shall stand released.

Section 10 - Procedure in relation to certain trust properties

In the case of any person referred to in clause (vi) of Explanation 3 of sub?section (2), if the competent authority, on the basis of the information and materials available to it, has reason to believe (the reasons for such belief to be recorded in writing) that any property held in trust is illegally acquired property, it may serve a notice upon the author of the trust or, as the case may be, the contributor of the assets out of or by means of which such property was acquired by the trust and the trustees, calling upon them within such time as may be specified in the notice which shall not ordinarily be less than thirty days, to explain the source of the money or other assets out of or by means of which such property was acquired or, as the case may be, the source of the money or other assets which were contributed to the trust for acquiring such property and thereupon such notice shall be deemed to be a notice served under section 6 and all the other provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly.

Explanation.-For the purposes of this section "illegally acquired property", in relation to any property held in trust, includes-

(i)       any property which if it had continued to be held by the author of the trust or the contributor of such property to the trust would have been illegally acquired property in rela?tion to such author or contributor;

(ii)      any property acquired by the trust out of any contributions made by any person which would have been illegally acquired property in relation to such person had such person acquired such property out of such contributions.

Section 11 - Certain transfers to be null and void

Where after the issue of a notice under section 6 or under section 10, any property referred to in the said notice is transferred by any mode whatsoever such transfer shall, for the purposes of the proceedings under this Act, be ignored and if such property is subsequently forfeited to the Central Government under section 7, then, the transfer of such property shall be deemed to be null and void.

Section 12 - Constitution of Appellate Tribunal

(1)     The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute an Appellate Tribunal [3][***] consisting of a Chairman and such number of other members (being officers of the Central Government not below the rank of a Joint Secretary to the Government) as the Central Government thinks fit, to be appointed by the Government for [4][hearing appeals against the orders made-

(a)      under section 7, sub-section (1) of section 9 or section 10;

(b)      under section 68F, section 68-I, sub-section (1) of section 68K or section 68L of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (61 of 1985);

(c)      by the Adjudicating Authority or any other authority under the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002 (15 of 2003).]

[5][(d) by the Adjudicating Authorities, Competent Authorities and the Qualifications, Special Director (Appeals) under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999).]

(2)     The Chairman of the Appellate Tribunal shall be a person who is or has been [6][***] a Judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court.

(3)     The terms and conditions of service of the Chairman and other members shall be such as may be prescribed.

(4)     Any person aggrieved by an order of the competent authority made under section 7, sub-section (1) of section 9 or section 10, may, within forty-five days from the date on which the order is served on him, prefer an appeal to the Appellate Tribunal:

Provided that the Appellate Tribunal may entertain any appeal after the said period of forty-five days, but not after sixty days, from the date aforesaid if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.

(5)     On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (4), the Appellate Tribunal may, after giving an opportunity to the appellant to be heard, if he so desires, and after making such further enquiry it deems fit, confirm, modify or set aside the order appealed against.

(6)     The powers and functions of the Appellate Tribunal may be exercised and discharged by Benches consisting of three members and constituted by the Chairman of the Appellate Tribunal.

?[(6A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (6), where the chairman considers it necessary so to do for the expeditious disposal of appeals under this section, he may constitute a [7][Bench with one or two members] and a Bench so constituted may exercise and discharge the powers and functions of the Appellate Tribunal:

Provided that if the members of a Bench so constituted differ on any point or points, they shall state the point or points on which they differ and refer the same to a third member (to be specified by the Chairman) for hearing on such pointer points and such point or points shall be decided according to the opinion of that member.]

[8][(6B) In the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the office of the Chairman by reason of his death, resignation or otherwise, the senior-most member, shall act as the Chairman until the date on which a new Chairman, appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Act to fill such vacancy, enters upon his office.

(6C) When the Chairman is unable to discharge his functions owing to absence, illness or any other cause, the senior-most member shall discharge the functions of the Chairman until the date on which the Chairman resumes his duties.]

(7)     The Appellate Tribunal may regulate its own procedure.

(8)     [9][On application to the Appellate Tribunal and on payment of the prescribed fee, the Tribunal may allow a party to any appeal or any person authorized in this behalf by such party to inspect at any time during office hours, any relevant records and registers of the Tribunal and obtain a certified copy of any part thereof.]

Section 12A - Qualifications, terms and conditions of service of Chairperson, and Member

[10][12A. Qualifications, terms and conditions of service of Chairperson, and Member.

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the qualifications, appointment, term of office, salaries and allowances, resignation, removal and the other terms and conditions of service of the Chairperson and other members of the Appellate Tribunal appointed after the commencement of [the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021, shall be governed by the provisions of Chapter II of the said Act][11]:

Provided that the Chairperson and other members appointed before the commencement of Part XIV of Chapter VI of the Finance Act, 2017, shall continue to be governed by the provisions of this Act, and the rules made thereunder as if the provisions of section 184 of the Finance Act, 2017 had not come into force.]

Section 13 - Notice or order not to be invalid for error in description

No notice issued or served, no declaration made, and no order passed, under this Act shall be deemed to be invalid by reason of any error in the description of the property or person mentioned therein if such property or person is identifiable from the description so men?tioned.

Section 14 - Bar of jurisdiction

No order passed or declaration made under this Act shall be appeasable except as provided therein and no civil court shall have jurisdiction in respect of any matter which the Appellate Tribunal or any competent authority is empowered by or under this 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.

Section 15 - Competent authority and Appellate Tribunal to have powers of civil court

The competent authority, and the Appellate Tribunal shall have all the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), in respect of the following matters, namely:-

(a)      summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;

(b)      requiring the discovery and production of documents;

(c)      receiving evidence or affidavits;

(d)      requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;

(e)      issuing commissions for examination of witnesses or docu?ments;

(f)       any other matter which may be prescribed.

Section 16 - Information to competent authority

(1)     Notwithstand?ing anything contained in any other law, the competent authority shall have power to require any officer or authority of the Central Government or a State Government or a local authority to furnish information in relation to such persons, points or matters as in the opinion of the competent authority will be useful for, or relevant to, the purposes of this Act.

(2)     Any officer of the Income-tax Department, the Customs Department or the Central Excise Department or any officer of enforcement appointed under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (46 of 1973) may furnish sou motu any information available with him to the competent authority if in the opinion of the officer such informa?tion will be useful to the competent authority for the purposes of this Act.

Section 17 - Certain officers to assist competent authority and Appellate Tribunal

For the purposes of any proceedings under this Act, the following officers are hereby empowered and required to assist the competent authority and the Appellate Tribunal, namely:-

(a)      officers of the Customs Department;

(b)      officers of the Central Excise Department;

(c)      officers of the Income-tax Department;

(d)      officers of enforcement appointed under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (46 of 1973);

(e)      officers of police;

(f)       such other officers of the Central or State Government as are specified by the Central Government in this behalf by notifica?tion in the Official Gazette.

Section 18 - Power of competent authority to require certain offic?ers to exercise certain powers

(1)     For the purposes of any proceedings under this Act or the initiation of any such proceedings, the competent authority shall have power to cause to be conducted any inquiry, investigation or survey in respect of any person, place, property, assets, documents, books of account or any other relevant matters.

(2)     For the purposes referred to in sub-section (1), the competent authority may, having regard to the nature of the inquiry, investiga?tion or survey, require an officer of the Income-tax Department to conduct or cause to be conducted such inquiry, investigation or survey.

(3)     Any officer of the Income-tax Department who is conducting or is causing to be conducted any inquiry, investigation or survey required to be conducted under sub-section (2) may, for the purpose of such inquiry, investigation or survey, exercise any power (including the power to authorize the exercise of any power) which may be exercised by him for any purpose under the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), and the provisions of the said Act shall, so far as may be, apply accordingly.

Section 19 - Power to take possession

(1)     Where any property has been declared to be forfeited to the Central Government under this Act, or where the person affected has failed to pay the fine due under sub-section (1) of Section 9 within the time allowed therefore under sub?section (3) of that section, the competent authority may order the person affected as well as any other person who may be in possession of the property to surrender or deliver possession thereof to the competent authority or to any person duly authorised by it in this behalf within thirty days of the service of the order.

(2)     If any person refuses or fails to comply with an order made under sub-section (1), the competent authority may take possession of the property and may for that purpose use such force as may be necessary.

(3)     Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the competent authority may, for the purpose of taking possession of any property referred to in sub-section (1), requisition the service of any police officer to assist the competent authority and it shall be the duty of such officer to comply with such requisition.

Section 20 - Rectification of mistakes

With a view to rectifying any mistakes apparent from record, the competent authority or the Appellate Tribunal, as the case may be, may amend any order made by it within a period of one year from the date of the order:

Provided that if any such amendment is likely to affect any person prejudicially, it shall not be made without giving to such person a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

Section 21 - Finding under other laws not conclusive for proceedings under this Act

No finding of any officer or authority under any other law shall be conclusive for the purposes of any proceeding under this Act.

Section 22 - Service of notices and orders

Any notice or order issued or made under this Act shall be served-

(a)      by tendering the notice or order or sending it by registered post to the person for whom it is intended or to his agent;

(b)      if the notice or order cannot be served in the manner provided in clause (a), by affixing it on a conspicuous place in the property in relation to which the notice or order is issued or made, or on some conspicuous part of the premises in which the person for whom it is intended is known to have last resided or carried on business or personally worked for gain.

Section 23 - Protection of action taken in good faith

No suit, prosecution or other proceeding shall He against the Central Government or any officer of the Central or State Government for anything which is done, or intended to be done, in good faith, in pursuance of this Act or the rules made there under.

Section 24 - 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.

Section 25 - Provisions of the Act not to apply to certain properties held in trust

Nothing contained in this Act shall apply in relation to any property held by a trust or an institution created or established wholly for public religious or charitable purposes if-

(1)     such property has been so held by such trust or institution from a date prior to the commencement of this Act, or

(2)     such property is wholly traceable to any property held by such trust or institution prior to the commencement of this Act.

Section 26 - Power to make rules

(1)     The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry 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 terms and conditions of service of the Chairman and other members of the Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (3) of section 12.

[12][(aa) the fees which shall be paid for the inspection of the records and registers of the Appellate Tribunal or for obtaining a certified copy of any part thereof under sub-section (8) of section 12;]

(b)      the powers of a civil court that may be exercised by the competent authority and the Appellate Tribunal under clause (f) of section 15;

(c)      any other matter which has 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 of 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 from 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 27 - Repeal and saving

(1)     The Smugglers and Foreign Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Ordinance, 1975 (20 of 1975) is hereby repealed.

(2)     Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the Ordinance so repealed shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of this Act.