**Executive Summary**
This document is the English translation of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (L.A. Bill No. LXXVII of 2025), introduced in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on July 8, 2025. The bill amends the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999, to bring more clarity to covering offenses related to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances under the MCOC Act. The bill was published under the authority of the Governor.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amendment to the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999:**
* The Bill seeks to amend the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999.
* This Act is called the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (Amendment) Act, 2025.
* **Definition of "Organised Crime":**
* In Section 2, a clause is substituted to define "organised crime" as any continuing unlawful activity, by an individual, singly or jointly, either as a member of an organised crime syndicate or on behalf of such syndicate:
* (i) by the use of violence, threat, or intimidation to gain pecuniary benefits or promote insurgency.
* (ii) by cultivating, producing, manufacturing, possessing, selling, purchasing, transporting, or storing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances in commercial quantities, in contravention of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, with the objective of gaining pecuniary benefits.
**Impact Analysis**
**Law Enforcement Agencies**
* **Impact:** Will have more explicit coverage of offences related to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances under the MCOC Act.
* **Action Required:** To enforce the amended act and investigate organized crime related to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
**Judiciary**
* **Impact:** Will be required to interpret and apply the amended definition of "organized crime" in cases involving narcotics and psychotropic substances.
* **Action Required:** To ensure fair trials and apply the law in cognizance of such offense.
**Organised Crime Syndicates Involved in Drug Trafficking**
* **Impact:** May face more stringent prosecution under the amended MCOC Act.
* **Action Required:** To not engage in activities specified under the act.
**Public**
* **Impact:** The bill will help curb the consumption of drugs and prevent young people from falling prey to the consumption of drugs.
* **Action Required:** None.
Key Entities Referenced
Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999: The principal act being amended by this bill.
Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (Amendment) Bill, 2025: Bill to amend the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985: Act referenced in the amendment.
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly: Legislative body where the bill was introduced.
RNI No. MAHENG /2009/35528
महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र
असाधााराण भााग आठ
वर्षष ११, अंक २५(२)] मंगळवारा, जुलैै ८, २०२५/आर्षाढ १७, शाके १९४७ [पष्ृठ े3, किंकमं त : रुपये े२७.००
असाधााराण क्रमांक ५९
प्रााकिंधाकृत प्राकाशान
महाारााष्ट्र किंवधाानमंडळाचेे अकिंधाकिंनयेम व रााज्येपालैांनी प्राख्येाकिंपत केलैेलैे अध्येादेेशा व केलैेलैे
किंवकिंनयेम आकिंण किंवकिंधा व न्येाये किंवभाागाकडून आलैेलैी किंवधाेयेके (इंंग्रजी अनुवादे).
In pursuance of clause )3( of article 348 of the Constitution of India, the following translation
in English of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime )Amendment( Bill, 2025 )L.A. Bill
No. LXXVII of 2025(, introduced in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on the 8th July 2025,
is hereby published under the authority of the Governor.
By order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra,
SATISH WAGHOLE,
Secretary )Legislation( to Government,
Law and Judiciary Department.
L. A. BILL No. LXXVII OF 2025.
A BILL
to amend the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999.
Mah. WHEREAS it is expedient to amend the Maharashtra Control of Organised
XXX of Crime Act, 1999, for the purposes hereinafter appearing; it is hereby enacted in
1999.
the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India, as follows :—
1. This Act may be called the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Short title.
)Amendment( Act, 2025.
Mah. 2. In section 2 of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, Amendment
XXX of 1999, in sub-section )1(, for clause )e(, the following clause shall be substituted, of section 2 of
1999. Mah. XXX of
namely :–
1999.
)१(
भाग आठ- ५९–१2 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग आठ, जुलैै ८, २०२५/आर्षाढ १७, शाके १९४७
“)e( “organised crime” means, any continuing unlawful activity, by
an individual, singly or jointly, either as a member of an organised crime
syndicate or on behalf of such syndicate,—
)i( by use of violence or threat of violence or intimidation or
coercion, or other unlawful means, with the objective of gaining
pecuniary benefits, or gaining undue economic or other advantage for
himself or any other person or promoting insurgency, or
)ii( by cultivating, producing, manufacturing, possessing, selling,
purchasing, transporting or storing of narcotic drugs or psychotropic
substances in commercial quantity, as notified under the Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, in contravention of 61 of
the said Act or rules framed thereunder, with the objective of gaining 1985.
pecuniary benefits, or gaining undue economic or other advantage for
himself or any other person;”.महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग आठ, जुलैै ८, २०२५/आर्षाढ १७, शाके १९४७ 3
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 )Mah. XXX of 1999(
)hereinafter referred to as “the MCOC Act”( has been enacted to curb or control
the menace of organised crime which is fueled by illegal wealth generated by
contract killing, extortion, smuggling in contrabands, illegal trade in narcotics,
kidnapping for ransom, etc.
2. In recent times, the increasing cultivation, production, manufacture,
possession, sale or transport of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances has
emerged as a very serious threat to the society. A large number of young people
have been found to be falling prey to the consumption of drugs. The consumption
of drugs is not only destroying the health and well-being of public at large but
is also tearing apart the social fabric.
It is noticed that, many organised crime syndicates are often found to be
using some of the non-functional, sick and defunct chemical production factories
for manufacturing of drugs, which is prohibited under the Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 )61 of 1985( )hereinafter referred to as
“the NDPS Act”(. The enormous illegal wealth is generated by the smuggling
in contrabands and illegal trade of narcotics and has potential to be used for
terrorist and other unlawful activities. This is not only adversely affecting the
State’s economy but also compromises public safety and security.
3. Section 2)1( )d( of the MCOC Act defines the term “continuing unlawful
activity” as 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 organised 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. To bring more
clarity about covering the offences relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic
substances under the MCOC Act, the Government considers it expedient to
amend the definition of “organised crime” under the MCOC Act, suitably.
4. The Bill seeks to achieve the above objectives.
Mumbai, DEVENDRA FADNAVIS,
Dated the 7th July 2025. Chief Minister.
ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATION, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DIRECTOR,
RUPENDRA DINESH MORE, PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD,
MUMBAI 400 004 AND PUBLISHED AT DIRECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATIONS,
21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004. EDITOR : DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE.