Power to compound offences

(1) The State Government may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette, empower any Wild Life Officer, or a Forest Officer, holding gazetted rank— (a) to accept form any person against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed any offence punishable under this Act a sum of money by way of composition for such offence, (b) when any property has been seized as liable to confiscation, to release the same on payment of the value thereof as estimated by such officer. (2) On the payment of such sum of money or such value or both, as the case may be, to such officer, the suspected person, if in custody, shall be discharged, the property, if any, seized shall be released and no further proceedings shall be taken against such person or property. (3) The sum of money accepted by way of composition under this section shall in no case exceed the amount of Rs. 200.