Production of articles, etc., seized before magistrate and powers of magistrate to deal with them

(1) Articles of food, animals, poultry, fish, utensils or vessels seized under section 387 and not destroyed under section 389 shall as soon as possible, be produced before a magistrate.

1. (2) Whether or not complaint is laid before the magistrate for any offence under the Indian Penal Code (Central Act 45 of 1860) or under this Act, If it appears to the magistrate on taking such evidence as he thinks necessary that any such animal, poultry, or fish is diseased, or any such article

is noxious or any such utensil or vessel is of such kind or in such state as is described in section 387, he may order the same,-

1. (a) to be forfeited to the corporation; and
2. (b) to be destroyed at the charge of the owner or person in whose possession it was at the time of seizure, in such manner as to prevent the same being again exposed or hawked about for sale, or used for human food or for the manufacture or preparation of, or for containing any such articles as aforesaid.