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Economic Offences, Financial Crime & Account Freeze Strategy

Retention of Seized or Frozen Property under Section 20 PMLA: Authority, 180-Day Limit, Extension, Adjudicating Authority Test & Release

Retention of seized or frozen property under Section 20 PMLA is legally different from the original ED search, seizure or freezing action. Section 20 requires an authorised officer, material in possession, a separately recorded reason to believe and a conclusion that the particular property is required for adjudication under Section 8. The initial retention or continued freezing may operate for up to 180 days from the original date of seizure or freezing, but continuation beyond that period requires the Adjudicating Authority to satisfy itself both that the property is prima facie involved in

Premium14 Aug 202622 min readCriminal DefencePMLABank FreezeWhite-Collar CrimeEconomic Offence
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Retention of Seized or Frozen Property under Section 20 PMLA: Authority, 180-Day Limit, Extension, Adjudicating Authority Test & Release

Retention of seized or frozen property under Section 20 PMLA is legally different from the original ED search, seizure or freezing action. Section 20 requires an authorised officer, material in possession, a separately recorded reason to believe and a conclusion that the particular property is required for adjudication under Section 8. The initial retention or continued freezing may operate for up to 180 days from the original date of seizure or freezing, but continuation beyond that period requires the Adjudicating Authority to satisfy itself both that the property is prima facie involved in

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