Section Text
(1) The Excise Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner, or any Excise Officer specially empowered in that behalf may accept from any peson whose licence or permit is liable to be cancelled or suspended under clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 29 or who is reasonably suspected of having committed an offence under sub-section (2) of section 32, section 33, section 34, section 35, section 36 or sub-section (2) of section 37, a sum of money1[not less than five thousand rupees but which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees]2[and in case of a person who is reasonably suspected of having committed an offence under sub-section (3) of section 32, a sum of money not less than two hundred rupees but which may extend to one thousand rupees] , in lieu of such cancellation or suspension or by way of compensation for the offence which may have been committed, as the case may be ; and in all cases in which any property has been seized as liable to confiscation under this Act may release the same on payment of the value thereof as estimated by such officer.
(2) On the payment by such person of such sum of money or such value or both, as the case may be, such person, if in custody, shall be set at liberty and all the property seized may be released and no proceeding shall be instituted against such person in any Criminal Court. The acceptance of compensation shall be deemed to amount to an acquittal and in no case shall any further proceeding be taken against such person or property with reference to the said act.
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1. Substituted by Act 12 of 1999 w.e.f. 29.04.1999.
2. Inserted by Act 15 of 2001 w.e.f. 19.04.2001.