National Investigation Agency

National Investigation Agency

News: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe into the killing of tailor Kanhaiyya Lal (48) in Rajasthan’s Udaipur over a social media post supporting suspended leader Nupur Sharma.
Now, the Union Home Ministry has handed over to the agency the investigation of a similarly executed murder of pharmacist Umesh Kolhe in Maharashtra.

About:
• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was constituted under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008.
• It is a central agency which investigates and prosecutes offences which:
• Affects the sovereignty, security and integrity of India, security of the State, and friendly relations with foreign States.
• Against atomic and nuclear facilities.
• Smuggling in High-Quality Counterfeit Indian Currency.
• It implements international treaties, agreements, conventions and resolutions of the United Nations, its agencies and other international organizations.
• Its objective is also to combat terror in India.
• It acts as the Central Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency.
• It has its HQ at New Delhi and Branches at Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkata, Raipur and Jammu.
• The schedule of the NIA Act specifies a list of offences which are to be investigated and prosecuted by the NIA. These include offences under Acts such as the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 etc.

NIA's Jurisdiction
• Law extends to whole of India
• Indian Citizens outside the country
• Persons in service of Govt
• Persons on ships & aircraft registered in India wherever they maybe
• Persons who commit scheduled offence beyond India against the Indian Citizen or Affect the Interest of India

How does NIA take up a probe?
• Referral through State Government - As provided under Section 6 of the Act, State governments can refer the case pertaining to the scheduled offences registered at any police station to the Central government (Union Home Ministry) for NIA investigation.
• Central Government asks the agency to act - After Assessing the details made available, the Centre can then direct the agency to take over the case. State governments here are required to extend all assistance to the NIA.
• When scheduled offence is outside India - Where the Central government finds that a scheduled offence has been committed at any place outside India to which this Act extends, it can also direct the NIA to register the case and take up an investigation.
• While investigating a scheduled offence, the agency can also investigate any other offence that the accused is alleged to have committed if the offence is connected to the scheduled offence.