Gurugram police provide compensation to fraud victim using proceeds of crime

The police have taken historic action by providing direct compensation to a victim of fraud using proceeds from crime, under new legal provisions. The accused had duped a young woman by promising to marry her and used the money to purchase a sedan.

In a case registered at the Sector 10A police station, the accused defrauded the victim of Rs 14.5 lakh, which he spent on the car. For the first time in India, the Gurugram police invoked Sections 107(1), 107(6) and 107(7) of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 to secure financial compensation directly from the proceeds of the crime.

Abhilaksh Joshi, ACP West, stated during the investigation, it was discovered that the vehicle had been purchased entirely with the defrauded money. Consequently, the police filed a petition with the court for the confiscation of the car under Section 107(1) of the BNSS. The accused admitted in court that the car had been bought with the stolen funds. Following this, the court issued a confiscation order on January 21.

After a public notice was issued through the Deputy Commissioner’s office, an e-auction for the car was conducted via the government's E-Auction India portal. The auction saw the highest bid of Rs 11.30 lakh, which was approved by the court. On February 26, the successful bidder handed over a cheque for the full amount directly to the victim in court.

This action marks a historic first in India, where direct compensation was provided to a victim from the actual proceeds of crime, fulfilling the new provisions under the BNSS.