Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
When there is reason to believe that an offence under this Act has been committed, but the offender is not known or cannot be found and when any thing or animal liable to confiscation under this Act and not in the possession of any person cannot be satisfactorily accounted for, the case shall be inquired into and determined by the Collector, who may order confiscation: Provided that no such order shall be made until the expiration of one month from the date of seizing the thing or animal in question or without hearing the person (if any) claiming any right thereto; and the evidence (if any) which he produces in support of the claim: Provided further, that if the thing in question is liable to speedy and natural decay, or if the Collector is of opinion that the sale of the thing of animal in question would be for the benefit of its owner, the Collector may at any time direct it to be sold; and the provisions of this section shall, so far as may be, apply to the net proceeds of such sale. 80.(1) The Collector may accept from any person who is reasonably suspected of having committed an offence punishable under section 62, section 65 or section 68 of this Act a sum of money by way of composition for such offence; and on the payment of such sum of money to the Collector the accused person is in custody shall be discharged and no futher proceedings shall be taken against him in respect of such offence. (2) The cancellation or suspension of any licence, permit or pass under section 36 (a), (b), or (c) of this Act may be foregone or revoked by and at the sole discretion of the authority having power to cancel or suspend it on payment by the holder of such license, permit or pass of such penalty as such authority may fix. (3) Where any 1[intoxicant] has been seized under the Further provisions for confiscation. Power of excise officers to compound offences.