15. Pawn broker advancing smaller amount or receiving higher interest than that specified in accounts to be punishable.
(1)Any pawnbroker who actually advances an amount less than that shown in the pawn-ticket or in his accounts or registers or who takes or receives interest or any other charge at a rate higher than that shows in the pawn-ticket or in his accounts or registers shall be punished [with imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, but not less than three months:Provided that the Court may, in addition to such imprisonment, impose fine which may extend to one thousand rupees:Provided further that the Court may, for any adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than three months, but not less than one month.] [Substituted for the words 'with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees' by section 7 of the Tamil Nadu (Amendment) Act, 1993 (Tamil Nadu Act 1 of 1994).](2)If a pawnbroker is convicted of an offence under sub-section (1) after having been previously convicted of such an offence, the Court convicting him may order his licence as a pawnbroker to be cancelled.
