Asset seizure before conviction of goons a necessity: UP in SC; justifies anti-gangster act provision, says it stops property transfer

NEW DELHI: Ahead of Supreme Court testing the validity of provisions of the UP Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act and the Rules, the state told the court that attachment of properties of those booked under the law prior to their conviction was a necessity to prevent them from alienating their ill-gotten assets. Petitioner Siraj Ahmed Khan had challenged his arrest under the anti-gangster law and his counsel, senior advocate Amit Anand Tiwari, had told a bench led by CJI B R Gavai on Friday that attachment of property prior to a person being pronounced guilty by a court was ex facie unconstitutional. He said that during pendency of Khan's petition challenging validity of the anti-gangster law and rules, the trial was proceeding which would render proceedings before SC