Chandigarh, March 22- Haryana Chief Minister said that the State Government is duty bound to combat the increasing organized crime in the State, and with this view, only The Haryana Control of Organized Crime 2023 has been passed.

With this legislation, the State Government will not only ensure effective legal action against the gangsters, their leaders and members of organized criminal gangs, but will also suitably empower the police in a lawful manner to take strong and deterrent lawful action against the criminals, said Sh. Manohar Lal during the last day of the State Vidhan Sabha today.

The Chief Minister said that tightening the noose around those involved in these organized crimes, special provisions have also been enacted for forfeiture of the property acquired from proceeds of crimes and to create a provision for special courts and special prosecutors for the handling the trails of offences under this Act.

The Chief Minister while clarifying the ruckus created by the Congress regarding certain definitions of the Act said that in the said Bill  “continuing unlawful activity” means an activity prohibited by law  for the time being in force, which is a cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment of three years or more, undertaken either singly or jointly, as a member of an organized crime syndicate or on behalf of such syndicate in respect of which more than one charge-sheets have been filed before a competent court within the preceding period of ten years and that court has taken cognizance of such offence.

He apprised the House that as pet the provision of the Act 25 (1) no information about the commission of an offence of organized  crime under this Act, shall be recorded by a police officer without  the prior approval of the police officer not below the rank of the Deputy Inspector General of Police. Further, no investigation of an offence under the provisions of this Act shall be carried out by a police officer below the rank of the Deputy  Superintendent of Police.

He also clarified that after the recording of the statement before the above said officers, the confession of the guilty will again be recorded before the Judicial Magistrate.