(1)Any forest officer, specially empowered in this behalf by the Government may accept a compensation from any person who committed or in respect of whom it can be reasonably inferred that he has committed any forest offence, other than an offence under section 52 or Section 55 -(i)a sum of money not exceeding fifty rupees where such offence is of a trival nature;(ii)a sum of money which shall not in any case be less than the value of the forest produce, or more than four times such value as estimated by such forest officer, in addition to the value of the forest produce, where such offence involves any forest produce which in the opinion of the forest officer, may be released;(iii)a sum of money which shall not in any case be less than the value of the forest produce or more than four times such value as estimated by such forest officer, where such offence involves forest produce which in the opinion of the forest officer should be retained by the Government.(2)On receipt of the sum of money referred to in sub section (1), by such officer,(i)the accused person, if in custody, shall be discharged;(ii)the property seized shall, if it is not to be so retained, be released, and(iii)no further proceedings shall be taken against such person or property.
