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Thursday, 12 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XXXVI: Disposal Of Property

Section 504 BNSS: Procedure where no claimant appears within six months

Corresponding CrPC
Section 458 CrPC

Bare Act text

(1) If no person within such period establishes his claim to such property, and if the person in whose possession such property was found is unable to show that it was legally acquired by him, the Magistrate may by order direct that such property shall be at the disposal of the State Government and may be sold by that Government and the proceeds of such sale shall be dealt with in such manner as the State Government may, by rules, provide.

(2) An appeal shall lie against any such order to the Court to which appeals ordinarily lie from convictions by the Magistrate.

Text as enacted in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act No. 46 of 2023), in force from 1 July 2024. Source: India Code, Government of India.

In simple words

If no person establishes a claim to seized property within the period and the person in whose possession it was found cannot show it was legally acquired, the Magistrate may direct that it be at the State Government's disposal and be sold by it. The section describes the sale and the use of the proceeds.

Chapter XXXVI: Disposal Of Property

  1. 497 Order for custody and disposal of property pending trial in certain cases
  2. 498 Order for disposal of property at conclusion of trial
  3. 499 Payment to innocent purchaser of money found on accused
  4. 500 Appeal against orders under section 498 or section 499
  5. 501 Destruction of libellous and other matter
  6. 502 Power to restore possession of immovable property
  7. 503 Procedure by police upon seizure of property
  8. 504 Procedure where no claimant appears within six months
  9. 505 Power to sell perishable property
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