Govt intends to amend UAPA to tackle terror financing

If the Cabinet approves the Home Ministry's proposal, a bill incorporating all amendments would be tabled in the monsoon session of Parliament beginning August 8.

Through the proposed amendment, the government intends to make UA(P)A more effective in preventing unlawful financial activities, money laundering, terror financing and circulation of Fake Indian Currency Notes.

The Bill enhances from two years to five years the period for which an association involved in terrorist acts, including terror financing, will be declared unlawful.

It widens the definition of "terrorist act" by including activities that threaten the economic security of India and damage its monetary stability by production, smuggling or circulation of 'high quality' counterfeit currency.

Through the amendment, government wants to confer more powers upon the court to provide for attachment or forfeiture of property equivalent to the counterfeit Indian currency involved in the offence, property equivalent to the value of the proceeds of terrorism involved in the offence besides others.

The provisions have been incorporated in the UA(P) Amendment Bill which was first introduced in Lok Sabha on December 29, 2011. The Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Home Affairs on January 13, 2012. (More)