Amendment in Section 45, of the Act VI, 1935

45. Offences and Penalties.– (1) It shall be an offence under this Act if- (a) a Co-operative Society or an officer or member thereof willfully makes a false return or furnishes false information, or willfully not furnishes any information required from him by a person authorised in this behalf or a Registrar under the provisions of this Act; (b) any person willfully or without any reasonable cause disobeys any summons, requisition or lawful written order issued under the provisions of this Act; (c) any employer who, without sufficient cause, fails to pay to a Co-operative Society amount deducted by him from its employee within a period of fourteen days from the date on which such deduction is made; (d) any officer or custodian who willfully fails to handover custody of books, accounts, documents, records, cash, security and other property belonging to a Co-operative Society of which he is an officer or custodian, to an authorised person; and (e) any person who indulges in the corrupt practices before, during or after the election of the Office-Bearer or member of the Board of the Co-operative Society. (2) Any offence under sub-section (1) of this Section shall be punishable with imprisonment for a period which may extend up to one year or with a fine which may amount to Rs. 2,000 or both; Provided that where a person is guilty of misappropriation, fraud, breach of trust, cheating or any other act involving moral turpitude, resulting in a loss to the Co-operative Society, he shall also be punishable under the relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.