The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002
20. Retention of
property.-
1. Where
any property has been seized under section 17 or section 18, and the officer
authorised by the Director in this behalf has, on the basis of material in his
possession, reason to believe (the reason for such belief to e recorded by him
in writing) that such property is required to be retained for the purposes of
adjudication under section 8, such property may be retained for a period not
exceeding three months from the end of the month in which such property was
seize .
2. The
officer authorised by the Director immediately after he has passed an order for
retention of the property for purposes of adjudication under section 8 shall
forward a copy of the order along with the material in his possession, referred
to in sub section (1), to the Adjudicating Authority, in a sealed envelope, in
the manner as may be prescribed and such Adjudicating Authority shall keep such
order and material for such period as may be prescribed.
3. On
the expiry of the period specified in sub-section (1), the property shall be
returned to the person from whom such property was seized unless the
Adjudicating Authority permits retention of such property beyond the said
period.
4. The
Adjudicating Authority, before authorising the retention of such property
beyond the period specified in sub-section (1), shall satisfy himself that the
property is prima facie involved in money-laundering and the property is
required for the purposes of adjudication under section 8.
5. After
passing the order of confiscation under sub-section (6) of section 8, the
Adjudicating Authority shall direct the release of all properties other than
the properties involved in money-laundering to the person from whom such
properties were seized.
6.
Notwithstanding
anything contained in sub-section (5), the Director or any officer authorised
by him in this behalf may withhold the release of any property until filing of
appeal under section 26 or forty-five days from the date of order under
sub-section (5), whichever is earlier, if he is of the opinion that such
property is relevant for the proceedings before the Appellate Tribunal.