Cognizance of offences

No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act except upon a report in writing of the facts constituting such offence made by an officer of the State Government not below the rank of a Gazetted Officer. (1) Every offence punishable under this Act shall be tried by a Magistrate of the first class. (2) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (No. 2 of 1974) shall apply to investigation, inquiry and trial of all offences under this Act.