Power to compound offences

(1) Any Forest Officer not below the rank of an Assistant Conservator of Forests empowered in this behalf by the State Government may accept as compensation from any person who committed or in respect of whom it can be reasonably inferred that he has committed any forest offence (other than an offence under Section 66 or Section 67 or an offence in the committing of which a vehicle has been used.] (i) a sum of money not exceeding fifty rupees where such offence is of a trivial nature and involves forest produce the market value of which does not exceed twenty-five rupees. (ii) a sum of money which shall not in any case be less than the market value of the forest produce, or more than four times of such value as estimated by such Forest Officer, in addition to the market value of the forest produce, where such offence involves any forest produce which in the opinion of the Forest Officer may be released. (iii) a sum of money which shall not in any case be less than the market value of the forest produce, or more than four times such value as estimated by such Forest Officer, where such offence involves forest produce which in the opinion of the Forest Officer should be retained by the Government : Provided that no such offence as is referred to in Clause (ii) or Clause (iii) shall be compounded if the market value of the forest produce involved exceeds five thousand rupees. (2) On receipt of the sum of money referred to in Sub-Section (1) by such officer— (i) the accused person, if in custody, shall be discharged. (ii) the property seized shall, if it is not to be so retained, be released; and (iii) no further proceedings shall be taken against such person or property.