Punishment for possessing unaccountable wealth on behalf of member of organised crime syndicate.

If any person on behalf of a member of an organised crime syndicate is, or, at any time bus been, in possession of movable or immovable property which he cannot satisfactorily account for, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine, subject to a minimum fine of rupees one lac and such property shall also liable for attachment and forfeiture, as provided by section 20.

Organised criminals are undoubtedly hard core criminals. They have no derth of most modern weapons. Extorting money by spreading terrorism in society is their aim. They target elite class of society. Naturally, the money they recover is of unusual proportion. The money is not spent on just causes but to derail state economy. It is therefore, essential to provide for strictest punishment. Punishment envisaged in the Act is 3 to 10 years of imprisonment which can be extended to life imprisonment. Death penalty can also be imposed on the criminals kill any one. So also a fine of 3 to 10 lacs can also be imposed.

It will be interesting to compare the criminals under this Act with criminals under recently repealed Tada Act. Criminals under both Acts differ in attitude and approach. Criminals under Tada aim at disruptive activities. They are threat to the sovereignty of Nation. On the contrary criminals under present law are extortionist.