Section2
The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018

Definitions

In force From 21 Apr 2018 Act 17 of 2018 As on 16 Oct 2026

Act 17 of 2018 Ministry Finance Enacted 31 Jul 2018 In force 21 Apr 2018

Section 2 of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 deals with definitions. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-- (a) "Administrator" means an Administrator appointed under sub-section (1) of section 15; The Act came into force on 21 Apr 2018.

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

(a) "Administrator" means an Administrator appointed under sub-section (1) of section 15;

(b) "benami property" and 'benami transaction" shall have the same meanings as assigned to them under clauses (8) and (9) respectively of section 2 of the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 (45 of 1988);

(c) "contracting State" means any country or place outside India in respect of which arrangements have been made by the Central Government with the Government of such country through a treaty or otherwise;

(d) "Deputy Director" means the Deputy Director appointed under sub-section (1) of section 49 of the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002 (15 of 2003);

(e) "Director" means the Director appointed under sub-section (1) of section 49 of the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002 (15 of 2003);

(f) "fugitive economic offender" means any individual against whom a warrant for arrest in relation to a Scheduled Offence has been issued by any Court in India, who

(i) has left India so as to avoid criminal prosecution; or

(ii) being abroad, refuses to return to India to face criminal prosecution;

(g) "key managerial personnel" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (51) of section 2 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013);

(h) "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expression "notify" shall be construed accordingly;

(i) "person" includes--

(i) an individual;

(ii) a Hindu Undivided Family;

(iii) a company;

(iv) a trust;

(v) a partnership;

(vi) a limited liability partnership;

(vii) an association of persons or a body of individuals, whether incorporated or not;

(viii) every artificial juridical person not falling within any of the preceding sub-clauses; and

(ix) any agency, office or branch owned or controlled by any of the above persons mentioned in the preceding sub-clauses;

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

(k) "proceeds of crime" means any property derived or obtained, directly or indirectly, by any person as a result of criminal activity relating to a Scheduled Offence, or the value of any such property, or where such property is taken or held outside the country, then the property equivalent in value held within the country or abroad;

(l) "Schedule" means the Schedule appended to this Act;

(m) "Scheduled Offence" means an offence specified in the Schedule, if the total value involved in such offence or offences is one hundred crore rupees or more;

(n) "Special Court" means a Court of Session designated as a Special Court under sub-section (1) of section 43 of the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002 (15 of 2003).

(2) The words and expressions used and not defined in this Act but defined in the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002 (15 of 2003) shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in that Act.

Section 2, The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (Act 17 of 2018).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

Related judgements & precedents

These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.

  1. Bhupesh Arora v. Directorate of Enforcement

    High Court 07 Apr 2025 Persuasive (High Court) Reportable 2025:GAU-NL:140 (Gauhati HC Kohima Bench)

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    Final Order order-5.pdf 2025-04-07 DATE VERIFIED. Gauhati HC (Kohima): stay of FEO declaration pending s.17 appeal. Isolate: s.2(f) warrant must be an effective executable warrant (not one kept in abeyance); s.10(1) notice must call for personal appearance at a specified place/time, not mere reply notice. Map FEO 10 (notice) — companion to Ramanujam. Do not pad Mallya interlocutory maintainability.

    On this section: s.2(1)(f) definition of fugitive economic offender — warrant requirement interpreted as warrant that can be executed, not one under stay/abeyance

    Read the full order on eCourts India

The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.

Questions about Section 2

What have the courts held on Section 2 of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act?

Bhupesh Arora v. Directorate of Enforcement (07 Apr 2025) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: s.2(1)(f) definition of fugitive economic offender — warrant requirement interpreted as warrant that can be executed, not one under stay/abeyance.

How do I find court cases under Section 2 of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act?

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: Fugitive Economic Offenders Act 2, section 2 Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, section 2 of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Bhupesh Arora v. Directorate of Enforcement (07 Apr 2025).

What should I read with Section 2 of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, and has it changed?

Its own text turns on Companies Act 2 (Definitions), section 15 (Management of properties confiscated under this Act), Prevention of Money-Laundering Act 43 (Special Courts), Prevention of Money-Laundering Act 49 (Appointment and powers of authorities and other officers), so none of them can safely be read on its own.

When did Section 2 of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act come into force?

Section 2 of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, cited as Fugitive Economic Offenders Act 2, came into force on 21 Apr 2018, having been enacted on 31 Jul 2018. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

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 16 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.