State Act

The Andhra Pradesh Excise Act, 1968

47. Compounding of offences – (1) The Collector, or any Prohibition and Excise Officer specially empowered in that behalf may accept from any person whose licence or permit is liable to be cancelled or suspended under clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 31 or who is reasonably suspected of having committed an offence falling under clause (b), 1[clause (b), clause (c), or clause (g) of section 34], clause (a), clause (e), clause (f), clause (g) or clause (h) of section 36, clause (b), clause (c) or clause (d) of section 37 or section 41 2[a sum of money not exceeding a sum of money subject to such minima, as may be prescribed and notified by the Government from time to time], in lieu of such cancellation or suspension or by way of compensation for the offence which may have been committed as the case may be; and in all cases in which any property has been seized is liable to confiscation under this Act, may release the same on payment of the value thereof as estimated by such officer : Provided that where the property so seized is a liquor manufactured in contravention of this Act, such liquor shall not be released but shall be disposed of in such manner as may be prescribed. 3[Provided further that in the case of an offence committed by the holder of a bar license for the first time, such offence may be compounded for a sum equal to two times of the license fee along with a warning. In the case of an offence committed for the second time by the Bar licensee, the bar licnese shall be cancelled.] (2) On the payment by the person the sum of money or the value or both, as the case may be 4[in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) or section 47-A], such person, if in custody shall be set at liberty, and all the property seized may be released and no proceedings shall be instituted 5[or continued] against such person in any criminal court. The acceptance of compensation shall be deemed to amount to an acquittal and in no case any further proceedings be taken against such person or property with reference to same act.