Power of excise officers to compound offences

Power of excise officers to compound offences. (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 intoxicant has been seized under the provision of the Act, the Collector may, in his discretion, at any time before a Magistrate has passed an order under section 78, sub-section (2), release it on receiving payment of the value therof.