Andhra Pradesh government to seize benami assets

Hyderabad: AP has moved one step ahead to nail public servants arrested by the ACB in disproportionate assets cases. From the month-end, it will seek permission from the ACB special courts to confiscate the benami properties of the accused. The government i s allowed to sell, use or mortgage these properties. If the accused is acquitted, the government should return possession or pay the building value with 5 per cent interest from the day it was confiscated.

The AP Legislature in 2015 had passed the AP Special Courts Act to set up four special courts to take possession of benami properties. TS has not made this move yet. A retired judge, who is likely to be appointed as an authorised officer for an AP ACB special court, said, “The chances of tainted officers getting back ill-gotten properties will decrease with this move. Seized benami properties will fall under the government’s control. The Act will also speed up the trial process”.

AP ACB Director-General R.P. Thakur said, “The special ACB courts will take possession of properties. Once the authorised officers are appointed, disproportionate assets cases will be put forward for confiscation.” In the usual procedure, when a public servant is booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the ACB will attach (seize) the properties. The seized properties are in legal possession of the court. When an officer is acquitted or has completed his sentence, the properties are returned to the officer who cannot sell or mortgage it.