The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018

The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 was passed by the Indian parliament with the objective of preventing economic offenders from evading the Indian legal system by fleeing the country. The Act enables the Indian government to confiscate properties and assets of individuals who have committed economic offenses and fled the country. The Act applies to a person who is a fugitive economic offender and has left India to avoid criminal prosecution, or being abroad, refuses to return to India to face criminal prosecution. The Act provides for the appointment of a Director to oversee the investigation of cases under the Act and to file an application for the declaration of a fugitive economic offender. The Act also provides for the establishment of a Special Court to try cases under the Act and to declare a person as a fugitive economic offender. The Act also empowers the authorities to attach and confiscate properties of a fugitive economic offender. The Act provides for the constitution of a Special Court to try cases under the Act and the appointment of an Administrator to manage and dispose of the confiscated properties.