The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has confiscated the properties of designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a member of the banned pro-Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
The NIA had approached a special court for the confiscation of the immovable properties belonging to Pannun under section 33(5) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967, an official release said.
This is the first time properties of someone absconding and accused under section 33(5) of the UAPA have been confiscated by the NIA, a significant departure from when properties used to be seized and could be contested in courts.
Fringe organisation SFJ, run by a few radical Sikhs of foreign nationality in the US, Canada, the UK, etc, was declared unlawful under the provisions of Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The Centre by its July 10, 2019 notification had declared SFJ unlawful association and had banned it for five years, saying the group’s primary objective was to establish an “independent and sovereign country” in Punjab and it openly espouses the cause of Khalistan and in that process, challenges the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.
Multiple agencies have filed cases against Pannun who has been declared as an “individual terrorist” under the fourth schedule of UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Amendment Act).
NIA confiscates properties of designated terrorist & Sikhs For Justice chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun
CNN-News18’s @AnchorAnandN shares more details on this #Exclusive input by @manojkumargupta | @aayeshavarma pic.twitter.com/AIZ7rmRTqe
— News18 (@CNNnews18) September 23, 2023