Patna, Aug. 10: Criminals evading arrest for a long time could forfeit their property.

Patna police will initiate the process of auctioning the immovable property of absconders — known as red warrantees in legal parlance — after seeking permission from the court.

Patna senior superintendent of police Alok Kumar, said to be the brain behind the idea, has asked for a list of absconders from all station house officers.

The move comes in the wake of the failure of the police to apprehend Kundan Singh, who is evading arrest in connection with the murder of the owner of a private bus agency, Ravi Kant Choudhary, on July 27. Kundan’s properties in Gaya and Patna were attached by the police last week.

Legal experts, however, wonder if the move will stand up to court scrutiny. Patna High Court lawyer Ajay Kumar Thakur said: “There is no provision in the law to auction the property of any permanent absconder,” he said.

Thakur, while referring to a provision carried over from the British Raj days, said the property of absconders can be confiscated with the court’s permission.

A senior police officer said only perishable items seized during attachment of the property of the absconders can be sold off. “The money has to be returned to the person concerned when he surrenders in the court or before the police,” he added.

However, an IAS officer, who has earlier served as the district magistrate of Patna, said the police can auction the property of permanent absconders after seeking permission from the court.

According to a rough estimate, about 1,500 persons have been evading arrest for a long time in Patna district.