497. (1) When any property is produced before any Criminal Court or the Magistrate empowered to take cognizance or commit the case for trial during any investigation, inquiry or trial, the Court or the Magistrate may make such order as it thinks fit for the proper custody of such property pending the conclusion of the investigation, inquiry or trial, and, if the property is subject to speedy and natural decay, or if it is otherwise expedient so to do, the Court or the Magistrate may, after recording such evidence as it thinks necessary, order it to be sold or otherwise disposed of.
Explanation.-For the purposes of this section, "property" includes-
(a) property of any kind or document which is produced before the Court or which is in its custody;
(b) any property regarding which an offence appears to have been committed or which appears to have been used for the commission of any offence.
(2) The Court or the Magistrate shall, within a period of fourteen days from the production of the property referred to in sub-section (1) before it, prepare a statement of such property containing its description in such form and manner as the State Government may, by rules, provide.
(3) The Court or the Magistrate shall cause to be taken the photograph and if necessary, videograph on mobile phone or any electronic media, of the property referred to in sub-section (1).
(4) The statement
prepared under sub-section (2) and the photograph or the
videography taken under sub-section (3) shall be used as evidence in any
inquiry, trial or other proceeding under the Sanhita.
(5) The Court or the
Magistrate shall, within a period of thirty days after the statement has
been prepared under sub-section (2) and the photograph or the videography
has been taken under sub-section (3), order the disposal, destruction,
confiscation or delivery of the property in the manner specified
hereinafter.
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 491 Procedure when bond has been forfeited
Section 492 Cancellation of bond and bail bond
Section 493 Procedure in case of insolvency or death of surety or when a bond is forfeited
Section 494 Bond required from child
Section 495 Appeal from orders under section 491
Section 496 Power to direct levy of amount due on certain recognizances
Section 497 Order for custody and disposal of property pending trial in certain cases
Section 498 Order for disposal of property at conclusion of trial
Section 499 Payment to innocent purchaser of money found on accused
Section 500 Appeal against orders under section 498 or section 499