Lok Sabha passes bill to strengthen NIA: Details here

The Bill was passed with 278 members voting in favor, while six voted against it, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla said.

Dismissing the allegations of misuse, Shah, ahead of the Lok Sabha session, said, "The Modi government has no such intention. Its only goal is to finish off terrorism but we will also not look at the religion of the accused while taking action."

Shah also targeted the previous Congress-led UPA government which had repealed the anti-terror Prevention of Terrorism Act or POTA over alleged "misuse."

Shah claimed the Congress repealed the Act to "save its vote-bank," adding terror attacks increased after POTA was scrapped.

The same UPA government formed the NIA in 2009 following the Mumbai terror attacks, which claimed 166 lives.

The Bill amends the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008, bringing three major changes to the Act.

The Bill allows NIA officers (who have the same powers as other police officers) to investigate offenses committed outside India, according to PRS Legislative Research.

However, NIA jurisdiction will be subject to international treaties and domestic laws of other countries.

According to PRS, the Bill also proposes to include more offenses under the Act's scheduled offenses such as human trafficking, counterfeit currency, manufacture or sale of prohibited arms, cyber-terrorism, and offenses under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.

Currently, scheduled offenses include those under Acts such as the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967.

Currently, the Act allows Centre to create Special Courts for trials of scheduled offenses.

The Bill, however, authorizes the Centre to designate Sessions Courts as Special Courts for such trials after consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court.

Additionally, PRS stated that state governments will also be allowed to designate Sessions Courts as Special Courts for the trials.