Amendment to PMLA notification: insertion of new statutory provisions expands referenced powers framework.
Central Government, under sub section (1) of Section 49 of the Prevention of Money laundering Act, 2002, amends the prior Ministry of Finance notification by inserting references to Section 58A and Section 58B after "section 57", thereby expanding the statutory cross references concerning appointment and powers of authorities and officers.

Appointment and powers under PMLA amended to include Section 12A via government notification exercising Section 49 powers.
Central Government, exercising power under sub section (1) of Section 49 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, amends the Ministry of Finance notification (GSR 440(E), dated 1 July 2005) by substituting the words "clause (b) of sub section (1) of Section 12 and its proviso" with "clause (b) of sub section (1) of Section 12, Section 12A", thereby altering the textual scope concerning appointment and powers of authorities and officers.

Client due diligence strengthened: reporting entities must maintain detailed records and report specified transactions promptly to the Director.
The 2013 amendments expand obligations on reporting entities under the PMLA by redefining terms, creating the Designated Director role for compliance, broadening the definition of transaction, and requiring robust client due diligence, documented risk assessments and a Client Due Diligence Programme. Reporting entities must maintain detailed transaction and identity records, detect and report specified transactions (including cross border transfers and high value property dealings) to the Director within prescribed timelines, and follow regulator prescribed procedures for record maintenance, reporting and audits.

Freezing orders added to money laundering rules, enabling property freezes where seizure is impracticable and updating procedures.
The 2013 amendments add freezing to the 2005 Rules, redefine "authority" as an officer subordinate to the Director authorized under the Act, and expand "material" to include reports or complaints forwarded to Magistrates or submitted to senior officers. They permit freezing where seizure is impracticable, bar transfer of frozen property without prior permission, require service of the freezing order, amend forwarding procedures to the Adjudicating Authority to include freezing, and substitute updated Forms I and II to reflect authorisation, seizure and freezing documentation.

Possession of attached property: rules require authorised officers to secure, deposit, transfer or sell confirmed assets and preserve proceeds.
Rules require the Director or an authorised officer to take possession of property confirmed as attached or frozen by the Adjudicating Authority, prescribing distinct procedures for movable assets (physical deposit, sale with judicial leave, bank deposit or transfers), immovable assets (notice to registrar, eviction, rent collection, acceptance of fixed deposit security for shares, constructive possession of productive assets with deposit of gross income), service by prescribed forms and publication, retention of property in court custody or by financial institutions subject to further orders, and maintenance of registers for recorded custody.

Provisional attachment orders: rules setting issuance, personal and substituted service, publication and corporate service procedures under PMLA.
Procedure requires the Director or authorized officer to make a Provisional Attachment Order when there is material to believe proceeds of crime should be attached; the order must be endorsed to concerned persons and the Adjudicating Authority. Service hierarchy: personal delivery to owner or authorized person, service on an adult family member, affixture on premises witnessed by two persons, newspaper publication if other modes fail, and use of speed post. For corporate entities, service on specified officers or by speed post is sufficient, with affixture and publication as alternatives. Central Government has final interpretive authority.

Power to search and seize: designated enforcement officers authorised to search persons and seize records subject to safeguards.
Authorization is given to officers not below Assistant Director in the Directorate of Enforcement to exercise search and seizure powers for records or property relevant to proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Personal search of individuals is permitted only during search-and-seizure operations and remains subject to statutory limitations and safeguards governing such searches.

Special Court designation for offences connected with Satyam to centralise trial jurisdiction under the PMLA.
The Central Government, exercising powers under section 43(1) of the Prevention of Money laundering Act, 2002 read with section 33 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, designates the XXI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Nampally, Hyderabad as a Court of Session under section 9 CrPC and declares it a "Special Court" to try offences in respect of all cases connected with M/s. Satyam Computers Services Limited.

Adjudication procedure under Prevention of Money Laundering Act: rules on filing, service, evidence, dress and certified copies.
Regulations establish the procedural framework for adjudication under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, specifying filing, form and electronic submission requirements, receipt and stamping, registration and numbering of applications and complaints, duties of the Registrar including limitation checks and hearing fixation, service and notice rules allowing electronic service, inspection and copying procedures with prescribed fees, witness examination and deposition recording in set forms, order pronouncement and signature requirements, and post disposal indexing, bundling and record management.

Designation of Special Courts broadens territorial jurisdiction for money laundering trials under the PMLA, amending earlier notification.
Amendment designates specific trial fora under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, substituting the Annexure entry to identify the Principal Sessions Courts at Ernakulam and Kozhikode as the Special Courts with jurisdiction to try offences under the Act for the entire State of Kerala.

Commencement of Prevention of Money-Laundering Amendment Act provisions appointed, bringing amended statutory framework into force.
The Central Government, exercising the power conferred by sub section (2) of section 1 of the Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Act, 2012, has appointed a date in February 2013 as the day on which the provisions of the Amendment shall come into force by notification, thereby bringing the amended statutory framework for prevention of money laundering into effect.

Appointment of Authority under Prevention of Money Laundering Act designates Additional Director (Prosecution) as enforcement authority.
The Central Government, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, designates the Additional Director (Prosecution) in the Directorate of Enforcement as an Authority for purposes of the Act, with the appointment taking effect upon publication in the Official Gazette.