66. Composition of offences by the Collector.-

(1) The Collector may, on an application from any person who is reasonably suspected of having committed an offence punishable under sections 26, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 or 59 including the attempts to commit or abet any of these offences under section 50 of this Act, accept a sum of money not exceeding twenty five thousand rupees subject to a minimum of five thousand rupees by way of composition, for each of such offences, and on payment of such sum of money to the Collector, the accused person if in custody shall be discharged and no further proceedings shall be taken against him in respect of such offence.

(2) If any lease, license, permit or pass has become liable for cancellation or suspension or has been cancelled or suspended under clauses (a), (b) or (c) of section 29 of this Act, the authority having power to cancel or suspend it, may, on application made by holder of such lease, license, permit or pass, after payment of such penalty, as it may fix, revoke or forego such cancellation or suspension, as the case may be.

(3) Where any liquor has been seized under the provisions of this Act, the Collector may, if he considers it expedient but subject to the provisions of section 65, at any time, before the Judicial Magistrate has passed an order under sub-section (2) of section 60, release it on receiving payment of the value thereof, if such liquor is fit for human consumption:

Provided that such release of liquor shall not affect the punishment of the accused for the offence for which he is liable under this Act.

67. Composition of certain other offences.-

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 39, any offence whether committed before or after commencement of this Act relating to the import, export, transport or possession upto one hundred litres of lahan or upto forty-five bulk litres of liquor, may, on an application made by the accused, be compounded,-

(i) before institution of the prosecution, by the Excise Officer of first class (not below the rank of the Excise Officer Incharge of the district), and

(ii) after institution of the prosecution, by the Judicial Magistrate of the first class, by accepting an amount which shall not be less than five thousand rupees but which shall not exceed twenty-five thousand rupees.

(2) Where an offence has been compounded under sub-section (1), the offender, if in custody, shall be discharged and no further proceedings shall be taken against him in respect of such offence: Provided that if a person commits an offence specified in sub-section (1), for more than three times, the same shall not be compounded.

(3) When a case has been compounded under sub-section (1), the Judicial Magistrate of the first class or the Excise Officer of first class (not below the rank of Excise Officer-in-charge of the district), as the case may be, may make such orders as he thinks fit for the disposal of the case property.