Such offence shall be a cognizable offence.

Punishment for abetment of the offence of illegal diversion of land or illegal colonization D. Punishment for abetment of the offence of illegal diversion of land or illegal colonization.--- Whoever in the area of illegal diversion or illegal colonization -----

1. (i) being an officer having power to sanction lay out or sanction a map for the construction of a building, grants sanction or approves such lay out or the map; or
2. (ii) being an officer or the authority competent to sanction electrical or water supply connection grants such sanction with respect to the building in such area ; or
3. (iii) being an officer under a primary duty to do so knowingly omits to report illegal diversion of land ; or
4. (iv) being an officer or an employee responsible to take action against the illegal diversion of land fails to take action ; or
5. (v) illegally influences the officers aforesaid in granting such sanction or in omitting to make a report of such illegal diversion of land. shall be punished a simple imprisonment which may extend to three years or with a fine which may extend to three years or with a fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both : Provided that nothing contained in clause (ii) shall apply to the cases where such competent authority as may be appointed by the State Government certifies that in the public interest there is no objection to provide electrical and water supply connections to the building in the area of illegal diversion or illegal colonization.