<h1>Benami transaction prohibition strengthened: law enables provisional attachment, confiscation and criminal penalties for benami dealings.</h1> The amended Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 2016, effective 1 November 2016 with notified rules, prohibits benami transactions and empowers designated authorities to provisionally attach and confiscate benami properties and to prosecute persons who enter into such transactions, with statutory penalties including imprisonment and fines linked to the fair market value of the property.