New Punjab law targets begging mafias with stricter punishments for non-bailable

The Punjab Cabinet has approved amendments to the provincial anti-begging law that will increase punishment for those who force others to beg and make it a non-bailable offence, officials said on Tuesday.

The amendments to the Punjab Vagrancy Ordinance of 1958 increased the prison sentences and fines for leaders of begging mafias.

Under the revised law, a gang leader who forces one person to beg could face up to three years in prison and a fine of Rs 100,000 to Rs 300,000.

If you do not pay the fine, you may receive an additional six months in prison.

If multiple persons are forced to beg, it can lead to a jail term of 3 to 5 years and a fine of between Rs 300,000 and Rs 500,000. Failure to pay the fines attracts similar additional penalties.

There are stricter penalties for cases involving children, with prison sentences ranging from 5 to 7 years and fines of 500,000 to 700,000 rupees.

If the fines are not paid, an additional year of imprisonment will be imposed.

In the most serious cases, where a person is disabled and forced to beg, the penalty can be up to 7 to 10 years in prison and a fine of 1 to 2 million rupees.

Unpaid fines will result in an additional two years in prison.

Repeat offenders will face double punishment and fines under the new provisions.

The amendments are part of a broader approach by the Punjab Home Department to tackle professional begging networks. “These stricter punishments are essential to deter begging mafias and hold them accountable,” a Punjab Home Department spokesperson said.