(1) Where an officer authorized by the State Government in this behalf, has reason to believe that 1 [ a motor vehicle ] has been or is being used by a person without payment of tax, additional tax or penalty if any, he may seize and detain the 2 [ a motor vehicle ] and for the purpose take, or cause to be taken, such steps as may be considered, by him necessary, for the safe-custody of the motor vehicle and, in particular, require the driver of such vehicle to convey it to the nearest police station or any other place specified by him:
Provided that the officer seizing the vehicle, shall, within forty-eight hours of such seizure, send a report of such seizure to the concerned Taxation Officer.
(2) 1 [ A motor vehicle ] seized or detained under this section shall be released by the Taxation Officer immediately on payment of the tax, additional tax, penalty or other amount due for the non-payment whereof the vehicle was so seized or detained.
2 [ (3) where the tax, additional tax, penalty or other amount due for the non-payment whereof a transport vehicle has been seized or detained under this section, is not paid under sub-section (2) within the period of forty-five days from the date of seizure or detention of the Vehicle, the Transport Commissioner may, without prejudice to any other action that may be taken under this Act, cause the vehicle to be sold by public auction in the manner prescribed and the sale proceeds of such vehicle shall be adjusted towards the tax, additional tax, the penalty or the other amount due in respect of such vehicle and the expenses, if any, of such auction and the balance, if any, shall be refunded to the owner or the operator of the vehicle. ]