Forfeiture of property in certain cases
Section 120 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with forfeiture of property in certain cases. The Court may, after considering the explanation, if any, to the show-cause notice issued under section 119 and the material 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 su The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
(1) The Court may, after considering the explanation, if any, to the show-cause notice issued under section 119 and the material 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 proceeds of crime:
Provided that if the person affected (and in a case where the person affected holds any property specified in the notice through any other person such other person also) does not appear before the Court or represent his case before it within a period of thirty days specified in the show-cause notice, the Court may proceed to record a finding under this sub-section ex parte on the basis of evidence available before it.
(2) Where the Court is satisfied that some of the properties referred to in the show-cause notice are proceeds of crime but it is not possible to identify specifically such properties, then, it shall be lawful for the Court to specify the properties which, to the best of its judgment, are proceeds of crime and record a finding accordingly under sub-section (1).
(3) Where the Court records a finding under this section to the effect that any property is proceeds of crime, such property shall 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 section, then, the company shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013) or the Articles of Association of the company, forthwith register the Central Government as the transferee of such shares.
Section 120, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act 46 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure
CRPC 105H Forfeiture of property in certain cases Text carried over almost unchanged 95%
Measured by comparing the text of the two provisions, not taken from an official correspondence table — there is no machine-readable one. See both texts side by side before relying on it.
Both regimes are live. The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force. We never redirect one to the other.
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… O R D E R By this application the applicant has prayed for bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (in short BNSS) in connection with FIR No.91/2024 registered with Crime Branch, Mumbai (corresponding FIR No.82/2020 registered with Goregaon Police Station) for the offence under Sections 465, 467, 468, 471, 409, 420, 120-B, 201 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code (in short IPC). 2. At the outset, I would like to mention that the bail application of the present accused was rejected by the learned Magistrate and by this Court. Thereafter, the applicant /accused filed the application before the Hon'ble High Court and pursuant to the …
Questions about Section 120
What does Section 120 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita deal with?
Section 120 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita is headed "Forfeiture of property in certain cases". The Court may, after considering the explanation, if any, to the show-cause notice issued under section 119 and the material 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 su
How do I find court cases under Section 120 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: BNSS 120, section 120 BNSS, section 120 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. People searching for it also type bnss 120b and 120 b bns in hindi. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 120 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 119 (Notice of forfeiture of property), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 3 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. It carries forward CrPC 105H (Forfeiture of property in certain cases), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 120 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita come into force?
Section 120 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, cited as BNSS 120, came into force on 01 Jul 2024, having been enacted on 25 Dec 2023. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 359. Compounding of offences1355 words
- 187. Procedure when investigation cannot be completed in twenty-four hours1122 words
- 2. Definitions956 words
- 243. Trial for more than one offence930 words
- 35. When police may arrest without warrant881 words
- 480. When bail may be taken in case of non-bailable offence823 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.