Kerala HC directs authorities to delete entries of forfeiture of Swapna Suresh's properties

KOCHI: The Kerala high court has directed for deleting the entries of forfeiture imposed on the properties of Swapna Suresh.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas ordered the competent authority under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act SAFEM (FOP) to communicate the order withdrawing notice of forfeiture against Swapna to the state government.
The village officer of Thycaud village, where Swapna’s properties are present, should delete all entries of forfeiture imposed against the petitioner’s property, the court ordered.
The directives were issued by the court in the judgment on a petition filed by Swapna challenging the notice of forfeiture issued against her properties on September 21st last year. A notice of forfeiture was issued following a detention order issued under the provisions of COFEPOSA Act.
Approaching the court through advocate R Krishna Raj, Swapna contended that the detention order was challenged before the high court and the court had set aside the order on October 8th last year. The judgment has become final, the petition (WP-C No. 197/23) said.
Deputy solicitor general S Manu submitted that following the high court’s judgment setting aside the detention order, the notice of forfeiture has been withdrawn.
The court said the competent authority is bound to inform the village officer about the withdrawal of notice of forfeiture and direct for recording it in the revenue records. The court then issued the order directing the competent authority to inform the state government about the withdrawal of notice of forfeiture and asked the village officer to make changes to the entries.