Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
Seizure of property Lzable to confiscation.-( 1) When there is reason to believe that a forest offence has been committed m respect of any timber or other forest produce, such t1mber or produce, together with all tools, ropes, chams, boats, vehicles and cattle used in committing any such offence may be seized by any Forest Officer or Police Officer. Explanatwn.-The terms 'boats and vehicles' in this section, section 53 and section 55 shall mclude all the articles and machinery kept m it whether fixed to the same or not. (2) Every officer seizing any property under:sub-section (I) shall place on such property or the receptacle, if any, in which it is con- tained, a mark indicating that the same has baen so seized and shall, as soon as may be, make a repm t of such seizure to the Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the offence on account of which the se1zure has been made: Provided that, when the timber or forest produce wHh respect to which such offence Is believed to have been committed IS the property of the Government and the offender is w1known, it shall be sufficient if the Forest Officer makes, as soon as may be, a report of the circum- stances to his official supenor. 53 Power to release property se1<,ed ut~der sec/ron 52.-Any Forest Officer of a rank not mfenor to that of a Ranger, who or whose sub- ordinate has seized any tool~, boats, vehicles or cattle under the pro\ l· Sions of section 52, may release the same on the execution by the owner thereof a bond for the p10duct10n of the p10perty so released, if and when so required before the Magistrate havmg junsd1ction to try the offence on account of\\ hich the seizure has been made.