Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter VIII: Reciprocal Arrangements for Assistance in Certain Matters and Procedure for Attachment and Forfeiture of Property
Section 121: Fine in lieu of forfeiture
In plain words
If only part of the property's source is unproven, the court must give the person the option of paying a fine equal to that part's market value instead of forfeiture, after hearing them. If they pay in time, the forfeiture is cancelled and the property released.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
(1) Where the Court makes a declaration that any property stands forfeited to the Central Government under section 120 and it is a case where the source of only a part of such property has not been proved to the satisfaction of the Court, it shall make an order giving an option to the person affected to pay, in lieu of forfeiture, a fine equal to the market value of such part.
(2) Before making an order imposing a fine under sub-section (1), the person affected shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(3) Where the person affected pays the fine due under sub-section (1), within such time as may be allowed in that behalf, the Court may, by order, revoke the declaration of forfeiture under section 120 and thereupon such property shall stand released.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 12 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 121
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.