Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1) Any offence punishable under section 16 may, either before or after the institution of the prosecution, be compounded by the Commissioner or such other officer as may be authorised in this behalf by the Commissioner, on payment, for credit to the State Government, of such sum as the Commissioner or such other officer may specify: Provided that such sum shall not, in any case, exceed the maximum amount of fine which may be imposed under this Act for the offence so compounded. (2) Where an offence has been compounded under sub-section (1), no proceeding or further proceeding, as the case may be, shall be taken against the offender, in respect of the offence so compounded and the offender, if in custody, shall be discharged forthwith.