65. Power to compound offences and to release property liable to confiscation.
(1)The Collector or any Excise Officer specially empowered by the Chief Commissioner in this behalf, not below the rank of Sub-Divisional Officer or Additional Sub- divisional Officer or Inspector of Excise,-(a)may accept from any person whose licence, permit or pass is liable to be cancelled or suspended under Clause (a), Clause (b) or Clause (c) of Section 42, or who is reasonably suspected of having committed an offence punishable under any section of this Act other than Section 58, payment of a sum of money, not exceeding two hundred rupees, in lieu of such cancellation or suspension or by way of composition for such offence, as the case may be; and(b)in any case in which any property has been seized as being liable to confiscation under Section 63, may, at any time before the Magistrate has passed an order under Section 64, sub-section (1), release the property on payment of any sum not exceeding the value thereof as estimated by the Collector or such Excise Officer.(2)When the payments referred to in sub-section (1) have been duly made the accused person, if in custody, shall be discharged, and the property seized (if any) shall be released; and no further proceedings shall be taken against such person or property.
