The government published the Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill in a Gazette supplement on 6 October, proposing wider powers for police to investigate and prosecute organised criminal groups.
The Bill seeks to implement the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime. Under it, membership of an organised criminal group for the purpose of committing a serious crime could carry a prison term of five to 20 years and a fine of up to Rs. 1 million.
It provides for detention orders of up to two months at a time, with total detention of up to one year. It also allows court-authorised digital surveillance, interception of communications, undercover operations and extraction of data from electronic devices.
The Bill would also restrict publication of victims’ identities and certain material relating to court proceedings in serious crime cases.
Because the powers affect investigations, detention and privacy, the final text will matter to the public once it is debated.
