(1)Any person who,-(a)offers to a pawnbroker an article by way of pawn, being unable or refusing to give a satisfactory account of the means by which he became possessed of the article; or(b)wilfully gives false information to a pawnbroker as to whether an article offered by him in pawn to the pawnbroker is his own property or not, or as to his name and address, or as to the name and address of the owner of the article; or(c)not being entitled to redeem and not having any colour of title by law to redeem, a pledge, attempts or endeavours to redeem the same;-shall, on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both.(2)In every case falling under sub-section (1), and also in any case, where on an article being offered in pawn, for sale, or otherwise, to a pawnbroker he reasonably suspects that it has been stolen or otherwise illegally or clandestinely obtained, the pawnbroker shall, in the absence of reasonable excuse, inquire into the name and address of the person concerned, and seize and detain such person and the article, or either of them, and forthwith communicate to the nearest police station the facts of the case and shall deliver the person and the article, or either of them (as soon as may be) to the custody of the police.(3)A list of properties believed to have been stolen may be delivered by the police to any pawnbroker licensed under this Act and thereupon it shall be the duty of such pawnbroker—(a)if any article answering the description of any of the properties set forth in any such list is offered to him in pawn, for sale, or otherwise, to proceed in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2); and(b)if any such article is already in his possession, forthwith to communicate to the nearest police station the facts of the case (including full particulars as to the name and address of the person concerned in the delivery of the article to the pawnbroker) and also, if so required by the police, to deliver the article to them.
