(1) The Collector or any Excise Officer specially empowered by the State Government in this behalf, not below the rank of Superintendent of Excise may, subject to any restrictions as may be prescribed, accept from any person whose exclusive privilege, licence, permit or pass is liable to be cancelled or suspended under clause (a), (b) or (c) of Sub-section (1) of Section 47 or who is reasonably suspected of having committed an offence punishable under any section of this Act other than Sections 55,58,59 and 67, payment of a sum of money as may be prescribed in lieu of such cancellation or suspension or by way of composition for such offence, as the case may be, and in any case in which any property has been seized being liable to confiscation under Section 71, may release the property on payment of equal sum of the prevailing market value thereof as estimated by the Collector or such Excise Officer :
Provided that where such person intended to evade excise revenue, the sum to be paid by such person in lieu of cancellation or suspension or by way of composition for such offence as aforesaid shall in no case be less than five times of such revenue intended to be evaded :
Provided further 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.
(2) When the payments referred to in Sub-Section (1) have been duly made, the person, if in custody, shall be discharged, and the property seized if any, shall be released and no further proceedings shall be taken against such person or property.
CHAPTER - VIII DETECTION, INVESTIGATION AND TRIAL OF OFFENCES AND PROCEDURE