Return of things liable to confiscation to bona fide owners

When during the trial of a case for an offence under this Act the court decides that anything is liable to confiscation under the foregoing section, the court may, after hearing the person, if any, claiming any right thereto and the evidence, if any, which he produces in support of his claim, order confiscation, or in the case of any article other than an intoxicant, hemp, mhowra flowers or molasses give the owner an option to pay fine as the court deems fit in lieu of confiscation: Provided that no animal, cart, vessel, vehicle or other conveyance shall be confiscated if the owner thereof satisfies the court that he had exercised due care in preventing the commission of the offence.