Section 17A(3) in The M.P. Tendu Patta (Vyapar Viniyaman) Adhiniyam, 1964
(3)A Forest Officer shall not be empowered under this section unless he is a Forest Officer of a rank not inferior to that of a Ranger and the sum of money accepted as compensation under clause (a) of sub-section (1) shall not be exceeding ten times the value of the tendu leaves :Provided that in case the tendu leaves in respect of which an offence has been committed is not the property of the Government or in case the value of the tendu leaves is less than one thousand rupees and (in addition), if the offender has committed the offence for the first time, the suspected person may be discharged and the property, if any, seized may be released on payment of the sum of ten thousand rupees or the value of the seized property (other than the tendu leaves) whichever is less; the seized tendu leaves may be released if not the property of the Government or on the payment of the value thereof, as the case may be.]
