The West Bengal government’s new anti-organised crime legislation, empowering police and district authorities with sweeping powers to crack down on “anti-social” elements, has come into force on Monday.
The law allows preventive detention for up to one year, externment of habitual offenders, and confiscation of properties acquired through organised criminal activities.
According to the state headquarters in Nabanna, the law officially titled the ‘The West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026’, has been brought into force to further strengthen the state’s law and order machinery and create a deterrent against organised crime and anti-social activities.
The legislation significantly expands the powers of the police and civil administration to curb organised criminal networks and habitual offenders.
The new law empowers authorities to detain an individual without trial for up to 12 months if they believe the person poses a threat to public safety or is planning to commit a major anti-social or organised criminal offence.
The Act also introduces “externment orders”, allowing District Magistrates, Police Commissioners and officers of the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) or above to direct habitual offenders to leave a specified area or even an entire district for up to one year if their presence is considered likely to disturb public order.
The legislation further makes all offences under its ambit non-bailable. Police will be empowered to arrest accused persons without a warrant, making it more difficult for those charged under the Act to secure bail.
Another major provision authorises the government to confiscate assets and properties allegedly acquired through organised criminal activities, including syndicate operations and other unlawful enterprises. The law also broadens the definition of “anti-social activities” and “goonda”.
Activities covered under the Act include syndicate operations, extortion, forcible occupation of land and houses, illegal sand mining from rivers, unlawful mining activities, intimidation of the public that disrupts business or normal life, major cyber-crimes and large-scale financial fraud.
Alongside the new law, the state will also operationalise the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at preventing damage to public and private property during protests and violent demonstrations.
The amendment provides for the establishment of a Claims Commission, which will assess losses caused during riots, violent protests or public disturbances and recover compensation from those identified as responsible for the damage.