Every forest officer and police officer shall prevent, and may interfere for the purpose of preventing the commission of any forest offence.

Power to compound offences 74. (1) The Government may, by notification, empower a forest officer not below the rank of a Range Officer-

1. (a) to accept from any person against whom reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed any forest offence, other than offence referred to in section 68 and section 69, a sum of money which shall be twice the value of the property involved by way of compensation for the offence which such person is suspected to have committed; and
2. (b) when any property has been seized is liable to confiscation to release the same on payment of the value thereof as estimated by such officer.

1. (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 with and the property, if any, seized shall be released, and no further proceedings shall be taken against such person or property.