Section 18 in The M.P. Kashtha Chiran (Viniyaman) Adhiniyam, 1984
18. Composition of offences.
(1)Forest Officer empowered by the State Government in this behalf may-(a)accept from any person whose licence is liable to be revoked or suspended under sub-section (5) of Section 6 or who is reasonably suspected of having committed for the first time of an offence relating to non-submission of return under Section 8 or of non-maintenance of account of wood under Section 9 or sawing of wood unlawfully obtained which is of less than half a cubic meter in volume, a sum not exceeding [ten thousand rupees] [Substituted by M.P. Act No. 13 of 2003 (w.e.f. 26-4-2003), for 'five thousand rupees'.], in lieu of such revoked or suspension or by way of composition for each such offence, as the case may, and may impose as a penalty a sum not exceeding [ten thousand rupees] [Substituted by M.P. Act No. 13 of 2003 (w.e.f. 26-4-2003), for 'five thousand rupees'.], and shall order confiscation of unlawfully obtained wood which was seized;(b)in any case in which any property has been seized as liable to confiscation under this Act, at any time before an order of confiscation is passed by the appropriate authority under this Act, release the same on payment of the value thereof as estimated by the Forest Officer.(2)On the payment of such sum of money, or such value, or both, as the case may be, to the forest officer, the accused person if in custody shall be discharged, the property seized shall be released, and no further proceedings shall be taken against such person or in relation to such property.
