Rationalizing the provisions of the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act

Benami transaction enforcement: amendments streamline initiation, attachment timing, evidence admissibility and penalties.

Amendments clarify that Initiating Officer need not obtain prior Approving Authority approval once notice under section 24(1) is issued; fix that the 90 day periods for provisional attachment and passing of orders run from the end of the month of notice and exclude court stays; introduce a penalty for failure to comply with summonses or furnish information; permit admissibility of certified authority records as evidence; and replace prior sanction by the Board with sanction by the competent authority.