CHAPTER IX   Offences and Penalties (Sec 54 to 70)

CHAPTER IX Offences and Penalties (Sec 54 to 70)

 54. Penalty for unlawful import, export, transport, manufacture, possession etc. -

Whoever in contravention of this Act or of any rule or order made or of any licence, permit or  pass granted, thereunder - 

(a) imports, exports, transports, manufactures, collects, sells or possesses any excisable  article; or 

(b) cultivates any hemp plant (Cannabis sativa); or 

(c) constructs or works any distillery, pot-still or brewery; or 

(d) uses, keeps or has in his possession any materials, stills, utensil, implements or apparatus whatsoever for the purpose of manufacturing any excisable article other than tari; or 

(e) removes any excisable article from any distillery, pot-still 1[brewery]  or warehouse established or licensed under this Act; or 

(f) bottles any liquor for the purposes of sale; or 

(g) taps or draws tari from any tari producing tree; shall 2[be punishable with imprisonment  for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to three years and with  fine of twenty thousand rupees or five times of the loss of excise duty, whichever is higher] 3[x x x x] 

4[Provided that if the quantity of liquor found at the time or in the course of detection of  the offence under clause (a) of this section exceeds fifty bulk liters, the person guilty for such  offence shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years  but which may extend to five years and with fine of twenty thousand rupees or ten times of the  loss of excise duty, whichever is higher.

(. substituted vide Rajasthan Act No. 11 of 1956. 2. Inserted vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007. 3. Omitted vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007. 4. substituted vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007. )

 5[54-A. Owner of animal, cart, vessel, raft, motor vehicle or any other means of  conveyance deemed to be guilty in certain cases.-

Where any animal, cart, vessel, raft, motor  vehicle or any other means of conveyance is used in the commission of an offence under this Act,  and is liable to confiscation, the owner thereof, except in case of a motor vehicle or other means  of conveyance being owned by the Central Government or any 1[State Government] or any of  their undertaking, shall be deemed to be guilty of such offence and such owner shall be liable to  be proceeded against and punished accordingly unless he satisfies the Court that he had no reason  to believe that such offence was being or likely to be committed and he had exercised due care in  the prevention of the commission of such an offence.

(Inserted vide Rajasthan Act No. 07 of 2000 )

1[54B. Penalty for adulteration resulting in death etc.-

(1) Whoever mixes or permits to be mixed with any liquor or intoxicating drug any noxious substance or  any substance, which is likely to cause disability or grievous hurt or death to  human beings, shall, on conviction, be punishable. - 

(i) if, as a result of such an act, death is caused to any person, with  imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than two years but  which may be for life, and with fine which shall not be less than one  lakh rupees but which may extend to ten lakh rupees;  

(ii) if, as a result of such an act, disability or grievous hurt is caused to any  person, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than two  years but which may be for life, and with fine which shall not be less  than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees;  and 

(iii) in any other case, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less  than one year but which may extend to ten years, and with fine which  shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to two  lakh and fifty thousand rupees.  

(2) Whoever omits to take reasonable precautions to prevent the mixing of any  noxious substance or any substance which is likely to cause disability or  grievous hurt or death to human beings, with any liquor or intoxicating  drug shall, on conviction, be punishable,- 

(i) if, as a result of such omission, death is caused to any person, with  imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten lakh rupees; 

(ii) if, as a result of such omission, disability or grievous hurt is caused  to any person, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than two years but which may be for life, and with fine which shall  not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to five  lakh rupees; and 

(iii) in any other case, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be  less than one year but which may extend to ten years, and with fine  which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may  extend to two lakh and fifty thousand rupees. 

 

(3) Whoever possesses any liquor or intoxicating drug in which any liquor or  intoxicating drug in which any substance referred to in sub-section (1) is  mixed, knowing that such substance is mixed with such liquor or  intoxicating drug shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment for  a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to ten  years, and with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees.

Explanation. -

For the purposes of this section and section 54C the expression "grievous hurt"  shall have the same meaning as is in section 320 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Central Act  No. 45 of 1860).]

(Inserted vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007)

[54C Order to pay compensation-

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the  Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act No. 2 of 1974) the court when  passing the judgment in a case falling under section 54B may, if it is satisfied that  death or grievous hurt or disability or other injury has been caused to any person or  persons by consumption of liquor or intoxicating drug sold in any place, order the  person who sold the liquor or intoxicating drug, whether or not he is convicted of  an offence under section 54B, to pay, by way of compensation, such amount as it  thinks just to the legal representatives of the deceased or to the person or persons to  whom grievous hurt or disability has been caused : 

Provided that the amount of compensation ordered to be paid under this  section shall not be less than three lakh rupees in case of death, two lakh  rupees in case or grievous hurt or disability and twenty thousand rupees in  other cases : 

Provided further that, where the liquor or intoxicating drug is sold in a licensed  shop, the liability to pay the compensation under this section shall be on the  licensee. 

(2) Any person aggrieved by an order under sub-section (1) may, within thirty  days from the date of

the order, prefer an appeal to the High Court : 

Provided that no such appeal shall lie unless the amount ordered to be paid  under sub-section (1) is deposited in the court which passed such order: 

Provided further that the High Court may entertain the appeal after the expiry  of the said period of thirty days if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by  sufficient cause from preferring the appeal in time. 

54D. Penalty for criminal conspiracy: -

Whoever is a party to a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable under this Act shall be punished in the same  manner as if he had committed such offence.

Explanation: -

For the purposes of this section the expression "criminal conspiracy" shall have  the same meaning as is in section 120-A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Central Act No. 45 of  1860)."]

55. Penalty for unlawfully selling to persons under eighteen or employing children  or women. -

If any licensed vendor or any person in his employ or acting on his behalf- 

(a) sells or delivers any liquor or intoxicating drug in contravention of Section 22; or 

(b) employs or permits to be employed on any part of his Licensed premises any person in  contravention of Section 23; or 

(c) permits disorderly conduct or gaming on the Licensed premises; 

(d) permits any person whom he knows or has reason to believe to have been convicted of  any non - bailable offence or any reputed prostitute to frequent his Licensed premises, whether or  not for the purposes of crime or prostitution; 

shall in addition to any other penalty to which he may be liable be punishable with a fine  which may extend to five hundred rupees.

[56. Penalty for rendering denatured spirit fit for human consumption.

Whoever  renders or attempts to render fit for human consumption any spirit (wherever manufactured)  which has been denatured or any denatured spirituous preparation or has to his possession any  denatured spirit or any denatured spirituous preparation which has been rendered fit for human  consumption or in respect of which any attempt or in which any alteration has been made to  render it so fit, shall be punished - with imprisonment for a term 2[which shall not be less than  two years but which may extend to five years and with fine of two lakh rupees or five thousand  rupees per bulk liter of denatured spirit or denatured spirituous preparation involved, whichever is  higher.]] 

"Explanation.

For the purposes of this section it shall be presumed, unless and until  the contrary is proved, that any spirit, which is proved on chemical analysis to contain any  quantity of any of the prescribed denaturants, is or contains or has been derived from denatured  spirit."] 

(1.Substituted vide Rajasthan Act No. 28 of 1961. 2. Substituted vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007.

3. Added vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007. )

 4[57. Penalty for possession of excisable article unlawfully imported:

Whoever,  without lawful authority, has in his possession any excisable article, knowing the same to have  been unlawfully imported, transported, manufactured, cultivated or collected or knowing the fact  that prescribed duty not to have been paid thereon, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a  term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to three years and with fine of  twenty thousand rupees or five times of the loss of excise duty, whichever is higher: 

Provided that if the quantity of liquor found at the time or in the course of detection of the offence exceeds fifty bulk litres, the person guilty for such offence shall be punishable with  imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to five  years and with fine of twenty thousand rupees or ten times of the loss of excise duty, whichever is  higher.] 

(4. Substituted vide Rajasthan Act No. 15 of 2011 )

 58. Penalty for certain acts by Licensee or his servants.

Whoever being the holder of a  licence, permit or pass granted under this Act or being in the employ of such holder and acting on  his behalf - 

(a) fails to produce such licence, permit or pass on the demand of any Excise Officer or of  any other officer duly empowered to make such demand: or 

(b) in any case not provided for in Section 54 wilfully contravenes any rule made under  Section 41 or Section 42; or 

(c) wilfully does or omits to do anything in breach of any of the conditions of the licence,  permit or pass not otherwise provided for in this Act: 

 

 shall be punished for each such offence with fine 2[ of five thousand rupees] five hundred rupees. 

58A. Penalty for adulteration, etc., by licensed vendor or manufacturer

Whoever being the holder of a license for the sale or manufacturer of any intoxicant under  this Act, or a person in the employment of such holder- 

(a) mixes or permits to be mixed with intoxicant sold or manufactured by him any  noxious drug or any foreign ingredient likely to add to its actual or apparent  intoxicating quality, or any article prohibited by any rule made under this Act  where such admixture does not amount to the offence of the adulteration  under section 272 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Central Act No. 45 of  1860); or 

(b) sells or keeps or exposes for sale as foreign liquor, liquor which he knows or  has reason to believe to be Indian made foreign liquor; or 

(c) marks any bottle or the cork of any bottle, case, packing or other receptacle  containing Indian made foreign liquor, or uses any bottle, case, package or  other receptacle, with any mark thereon or on the cork thereof, to contain  Indian made foreign liquor with the intention for causing it to be believed that  such bottle, case, package or other receiptable contains foreign liquor, when  such act shall not amount to the offence of using a false property mark with  intention to deceive or injure any person under Section 482 of the Indian Penal  Code, 1860 (Central Act No. 45 of 1860); or 

(d) sells or keeps or exposes for sale any Indian made foreign liquor in a bottle,  case, package or other receptacle with any mark thereon or on the cork  thereof with the intention of causing it to be believed that such bottle, case,  package or other receptacle contains foreign liquor, when such act shall  amount to be offence of selling goods marked with a counterfeit property mark  under Section 486 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Central Act No. 45 of  1860); or

(e) makes any block for the purpose of counterfeiting excise adhesive labels or  holograms or prepares copies by any means of such labels or holograms for  the purpose of counterfeiting such labels or holograms or counterfeits excise  adhesive labels or holograms or makes any block for the purpose of  counterfeiting corks or capsules to be used on bottles, cases, packing or other  receptacles containing Indian made foreign liquor or foreign liquor or  counterfeits such corks or capsules or is in possession of counterfeit excise  adhesive labels, holograms, corks, capsules or blocks or any other material to  be used for counterfeiting such labels , holograms, corks, capsules, 

shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment, — 

(i) in case of first offence, for a terms which shall not be less than one year but  which may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than ten  thousand rupees but which may extend to three lakh rupees; 

(ii) in case of a second or subsequent offence, for a term which shall not be less  than two years b ut which may extend to five years and with fine which shall  not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to five lakh  rupees. 

Explanation.  

For the purposes of this section, the expression "counterfeit"  shall have the same meaning as is in Section 28 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860  (Central Act No. 45 of 1860).] 

(Substituted vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007. )

59. Penalty for consumption in chemist's shop etc.

(1) If any chemist, druggist,  apothecary or keeper of a dispensary allows any excisable article, who has not been  bona fide medicated for medicinal purposes to be consumed on his business premises  by any person not employed in his business, he shall be punished with imprisonment for  a term which may extend to three months 1[and with fine] which may extend to one  thousand rupees 2[xxx]. 

 

(2) If any person not employed as aforesaid, consumes any such excisable article on  such premises, he shall be punished with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. 

 (1. Substituted vide Rajasthan Act No. 41 of 1956.

  2. Omitted vide Rajasthan Act No. 41 of 1956)

60. Penalty for Excise Officer refusing to do duty.

Any Excise Officer who without  lawful excuse shall cease or refuse to perform or shall withdraw himself from the duties  of his office unless expressly allowed to do so in writing by the Excise Commissioner, or  unless he shall have given to his superior officer two months notice in writing if his  intention to do so shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three  months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both. 

61. Penalty for Excise Officer making vexatious search etc. -

If any Excise Officer—

(a) without reasonable grounds of suspicion enters, inspects or searches or causes  to be entered, inspected or searched any place; or 

(b) vexatiously and unnecessarily seizes any property of any person on the pretence  of seizing or searching for any article liable to confiscation under this Act; or 

 

(c) vexatiously and unnecessarily detains, searches or arrests any person; he shall  be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or  with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both. 

[61A Penalty for certain acts and omissions by Excise Officers.-

If any Excise Officer unlawfully releases or abets the escape of any person arrested under this Act or acts in any  manner inconsistent with his duty for the purpose of enabling any person to do anything whereby  any of the provisions of this Act may be evaded or contravened or the excise revenue may be  defrauded, he shall be punished with imprisonment for a term, which shall not be less than three  months but which may extend to one year : 

Provided that no court shall take cognizance against any officer under this section without prior permission of the State Government"].

(1. Inserted vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007. )

 62. Penalties for offences not otherwise provided for.

Whoever is guilty of any act or  intentional omission in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act, or of any rule or order  made under this Act and not otherwise provided for therein shall be punished for each such act or  omission with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. 

62A. Offence by company. -

(1) Where an offence under this Act which has been committed  by a company, every person who at the time the offence was committed was incharge of, and was  responsible to the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the  company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against  and punished accordingly: 

Provided that where a company has different establishments or branches or different units in any  establishment or branch, the concerned Head or the person incharge of such establishment,  branch, unit nominated by the company as responsible for excisable articles shall be liable for  contravention in respect of such establishment, branch or unit: 

Provided further that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to  any punishment provided in this Act, if he proves that the offence was committed without his  knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-Section (1), where an offence under this Act has  been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the  consent or connivance of or is attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager,  secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall  also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and  punished accordingly. 

Explanation. -

For the purposes of this section- 

(a) "company" means anybody corporate and includes a firm or other association of  individuals; and 

(b) "director", in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm. 

(Inserted vide Rajasthan Act No. 14 of 2014. )

63. Penalty for fraud by Licensed manufacturer or vendor or his servant.

 lf any Licensed  manufacturer or licensed vendor or any person in his employ or acting on his behalf -  (a) sell or keeps, or exposes for sale, as foreign liquor any liquor which he knows or has  reason to believe to have been manufactured from rectified spirit or Country liquor; or  (b) marks any bottle, case, package or other receptacle containing liquor manufactured from  rectified spirit or country liquor or cork of any such bottle with the intention of causing it to be  believed that such bottle, case, package or other receptacle contains foreign liquor:  he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months 1[and  with fine] which may extend to five hundred rupees. 1[x x x x] 

(1. Substituted vide Rajasthan Act No. 41 of 1956. )

(2. Substituted vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007 )

 64. Manufacture, sale or possession by one person on account of another.-

(1) When any  excisable article has been manufactured or sold or is possessed by any person on account of any  other person and such other person knows or has reason to believe that such manufacture or sale  was, or that such possession is, on his account, the article shall for the purposes of this Act be  deemed to have been manufactured, or sold by to be in the possession of such other person. 

 

(2) Nothing in Sub-section (1) shall absolve any person who manufactures, sells or has  possession of an excisable article on account of another person from liability to punishment under  this Act for the unlawful manufacture, sale or possession of such article. 

 

65. Attempt to commit offence punishable under this Act.-

 

Whoever attempts to commit  or abets any offence punishable under this Act shall be liable to the punishment provided for the  offence. 

66. Enhanced punishment after previous conviction.-

[Except as provided in section 58A,  if any person] after having been previously convicted of an offence punishable under this Act or  under the similar provisions of any enactment repealed by this Act subsequently commits and is  convicted of an offence punishable under this Act, he shall be liable to twice the punishment  which might be imposed on a first conviction under this Act:

1[x x x x]  

 2[Provided further that the enhanced punishment would not in any way affect the minimum  sentence prescribed for 6[any offence under this Act]. 

 

(1.Omitted vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007

2- Added vide Rajasthan Act No. 41 of 1958)

 66-A. Security for abstaining from commission of offences.-

(1) whenever any person is  convicted of an offence punishable under this Act and the Court convicting him is of the opinion  that it is necessary to require such person to execute a bond for abstaining from the commission  of any such offence, the Court may, at the time of passing sentence on such person, order him to  execute a bond for a sum proportionate to his means, with or without sureties, for abstaining from  the commission of the said offence during such period not extending three years, as it thinks fit to  fix 

(2) The bond shall be in the form contained in Schedule II and the provisions of the Code  of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Central Act 5 of 1898) shall, in so far as they are applicable, apply  to all matters connected with such bond as if it were a bond to keep the peace ordered to be  executed under Section 106 of the said Code. 

(3) If the conviction is set aside in appeal or revision the bond so executed shall also become  void. 

(4) An order under this section may also be made by an appellate Court or by the High Court  when exercising its powers of revision] 

(3- Inserted vide Rajasthan Act No. 28 of 1961 )

67. 4[Cognizance of offences and credit of fines to Excise Department].

(1) No  magistrate shall take cognizance of an offence punishable– 

  

5[(a) under Section 54 or Section 54-B or Section 54-D or Section 57 or Section 59 or Section  62-A or Section 63 except on his own knowledge or suspicion or on a complaint or the  report of an Excise Officer; or]  

(b) under Section 55 or Section 56 6[or Section 58 or Section 58A] or Section 60 or Section  61 or Section 62 except 7[on a complaint or the] report of an officer not below the rank of  the Excise commissioner or an Excise Officer 7[duly empowered] in that behalf.

 

7[Explanation]

(1)The report of an Excise Officer under this sub-section shall be treated for all  purposes of trial to be a report made by a police officer within the meaning of Clause (b) of sub section (1) of Section 190 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 9[1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974)].

(2) Except with the special sanction of the 10[State Government] no Magistrate shall take  cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act, unless the prosecution is instituted within a  year after the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed. 

 

1[(3) Notwithstanding anything in any other law for the time being in force in the State, all  sums realised on account of fines imposed by a Magistrate on conviction of a person for any  offence under this Act, shall, on such realisation, be credited to the head of account to which the  receipts of the Excise Department are credited, after deducting the expenses incurred in  connection with such realisation .

(4- Inserted vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007

5- Substituted vide Rajasthan Act No. 14 of 2014.

6- Substituted vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007

7-Substituted vide Rajasthan Act No. 22 of 1958

8-Substituted & Added vide Rajasthan Act No. 28 of 1952

9-Substituted vide Rajasthan Act No. 30 of 1976

10-Substituted vide Rajasthan Act No. 38 of 1957)

1. Inserted vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007 

 

68. Presumption as to commission of offences in certain cases. -

 In every Presumption for any  offence punishable under this Act, it shall be presumed 1[without further evidence] until the  contrary is proved, that the accused person has committed such offence in respect of— 

(a) any excisable article; or 

(b) any still, utensil, implement or apparatus whatsoever 1[as are ordinarily used in] the  manufacture on any such article or drug; or 

(c) any materials which have undergone any process towards the manufacture of an existable article or from which any such article has been manufactured, for the possession of which  he is unable to account satisfactorily. and the holder of a licence , permit or pass under this  Act, shall be liable to punishment, as well as the actual offender, for any offence  punishable under this Act committed by any person in his employ and acting on his behalf  as if he had himself committed the same, unless he shall establish that all due and reasonable precautions were exercised by him to prevent the commission of such offence; Provided that no person other than the actual offender shall be punished with  imprisonment except in default of payment of fine. 

(1. Inserted & Added vide Rajasthan Act No. 28 of 1961 )

69. What things are liable to confiscation -

(1) Whenever an offence punishable under this Act  has been committed–  (a) every excisable article in respect of which such offence has been committed;

(b) every still, utensil, implement or apparatus and all materials by means of which such  offence has been committed; 

(c) every excisable article lawfully imported, transported, manufactured held in possession or  sold along with or in addition to any excisable article liable to confiscation under Clause  (a)

(d) every receptacle, package or covering in which any article as aforesaid or any materials,  still, utensil, implement or apparatus is or are found together with the other contents (if  any) of such receptacle or package, and 

(e) every animal, cart, vessel raft or other conveyance used in carrying such receptacles or  package shall be liable to confiscation 1[...] 

(2) When in the trial of any offence punishable under this Act the Magistrate decides that  anything is liable to confiscation 2[under clause (a) to (d) of sub-section (1)] he may order  confiscation 1[:] 

Provided that 4[in case of a thing other than an excisable article he may, in lieu of ordering  confiscation, give] the owner of the thing liable to be confiscated an option to pay any such fine  as the Magistrate think fit. 

5[Provided further that, if the excisable articles seized in connection with an offence under  this Act are such as cannot be legally sold in Rajasthan in the form they were seized, such  excisable articles may be ordered to be confiscated by the District Excise Officer concerned,  whether or not prosecution is instituted for the offence and whether or not the offence is  compounded: and] 

 

3[(2A) Where the District Excise Officer, after passing an order of confiscation under sub section (2) is of the opinion that it is expedient in the public interest so to do, he may order the  confiscated excisable articles or any part thereof to be sold by public auction or to be destroyed or  disposed of departmentally in accordance with the rules made by the State Government in this  behalf.] 

 

(2B) Whenever any excisable article is seized under sub-section (1), the District Excise  Officer shall have, and, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in  force, any court, tribunal or other authority shall not have, jurisdiction to make order with regard  to the possession, delivery, disposal and release of such property.] 

 

(3) When anything mentioned in sub-section (1) is found in circumstances which afford reason to  believe that an offence under this Act has been committed in respect or by means thereof, or  when such an offence has been committed and the offender is not known or cannot be found, the  Excise Commissioner may order confiscation of the same: 

 

any) claiming any right thereto, and right thereto, and the evidence (if any) which he produces  in Provided that no such order shall be made until the expiration of one month from the date of  seizing the thing or animal in question or without hearing the person (if support of the claim: 

 

Provided further that if the thing in question is liable to speedy and natural decay, of it the Excise  Commissioner is of opinion that the sale of the thing or animal in question would be for the  benefit of its owner, he may at any time direct it to be sold; and the provisions of this section shall  so far as may be, apply to the net proceeds of such sale. 

 

1[ 4) Where any means of conveyance referred to in clause (e) of sub-section (1) is seized in  connection with the commission of any offence under this Act, a report of such seizure shall,  without unreasonable delay, be made by the person seizing it to the Excise Commissioner or to  the officer, not below the rank of the District Excise Officer, as may be duly authorised by the  State Government in this behalf and whether or not a prosecution is instituted for commission of  such an offence, the Excise Commissioner or the officer authorised in this behalf by the State  Government, having jurisdiction over the area where the said means of conveyance was seized,  may, if satisfied that the said means of conveyance was used for commission of offence under  this Act, order confiscation of the said means of conveyance :] 

 

Provided that before ordering confiscation of the said means of conveyance a reasonable  opportunity of being heard shall be afforded to the owner of the said means of conveyance and if  such owner satisfies the Excise Commissioner or the officer authorised by the State Government  in this behalf that he had no reason to believe that such offence was being or likely to be  committed and he had exercised due care in the prevention of the commission of such an offence,  the Excise Commissioner or the officer authorised by the State Government in this behalf, may  not confiscate the said means of conveyance: 

 

Provided further that where such means of conveyance is owned by the Central Government or  any State Government or any of their undertaking, no order of confiscation of such means of  conveyance shall be passed by the Excise Commissioner or the officer authorised by the State  Government in this behalf and the matter shall be referred to the State Government by the Excise  Commissioner or the officer authorised by the State Government in this behalf, for making such  orders regarding means of conveyance as the State Government may deem fit : 

 

Provided also that before ordering confiscation under this sub-section the owner of the means of  conveyance, referred to in clause (e) of sub-section (1), may be given an option to pay in lieu of  confiscation, a fine not exceeding the market price of such means of conveyance.

 

5[***] 

 

(6) Whenever any means of conveyance as referred to in clause (e) of sub-section (1) is seized in  connection with Commission of an offence under this Act, the Excise Commissioner or any  officer authorised in this behalf by the State Government shall have, and, notwithstanding  anything contained in any law for the the time being in force any court, tribunal or other authority  shall not have, jurisdiction to make order with regard to the possession, delivery, disposal, release  of such means of conveyance. 

 

(7) Where the Excise Commissioner or the officer authorised by the State Government in this  behalf is of the opinion that it is expedient in public interest or for the benefit of its owner that the  means of conveyance, as referred to in clause (e) of sub-section (1), seized for commission of  offence under this Act be sold by public auction, he may at any time direct it to be sold. 

 

(8) Where any means a conveyance is sold, as aforesaid, the sale proceeds thereof, after  deduction of the expenses of such sale or auction or other incidental expenses relating thereto  and in other cases, the means of conveyance which was seized or the amount of fine paid in  lieu of its confiscation, shall— 

 

(a) where no order of confiscation is ultimately passed by the Excise Commissioner or the  officer authorised by the State Government in this behalf; or 

 

1[(b) where an order passed in appeal so requires; or] 

 

(c) where in a prosecution instituted for commission of offence under this Act in respect of  which an order of confiscation has been made under this section, the person concerned is  acquitted, be paid, returned or refunded, as the case may be, to its owner : 

Provided that no interest shall be payable on the amount to be paid or refunded under this sub section. 

(9) Any order of confiscation made by the Excise Commissioner or any officer authorised by the  State Government in this behalf, shall not prevent the infliction of any punishment to which the  person affected there by is liable under this Act. 

( 1. deleted & Added vide Rajasthan Act No. 07 of 2000

2. Substituted vide Rajasthan Act No. 07 of 2000

3. Substituted vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007

4. Substituted vide Rajasthan Act No. 28 of 1961

5. Inserted vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007

6. Added vide Rajasthan Excise (Amendment) Act, 2007 vide Notifi. No 2(27) Vidhi/2/2006, dt 6.6.2007

1.inserted vide Rajasthan Act No. 07 of 2000

2. Deleted vide Rajasthan Act No. 15 of 2005

1. Substituted vide Rajasthan Act No. 15 of 2005)

 

70. Power of Excise Officers to compound offences - 

(1) 2[Subject to such conditions and  restrictions as may be prescribed], the Excise Commissioner or any other Excise Officer specially  empowered by the State Government in that behalf) may accept from any person whose licence,  permit or pass is liable to be cancelled or suspended under this Act, or who is reasonable  suspected of having committed an offence punishable under this Act, a sum of money not  exceeding 3[not less then Rs. 5000/- but not exceeding 10 times o the annual licensee fee in  respect of manufacturing units/bonds and wholesale vends etc. and not more then two times  exclusive privilege amount in case of liquor and beer shops along with other levies applicable  from time to time] in lieu of such cancellation or suspension or by way of composition for such  offence which may have been committed, as the case may be, and in all cases whatsoever in  which may have been committed, as the case may be, and in all cases whatsoever in which any  property 4[...] has been seized as liable to confiscation under this ACT 5[may release all such  property except an excisable article on payment of the value thereof as estimated by such officer  and may confiscate the excisable article]: 

 

Provided that no such composition shall be accepted from any officer or servant of the Excise  Department for any offence under this Act committed by such officer or servant. 

 

1[Provided further that no offence of manufacture, or possession for sale of an excisable article  punishable under Section 54 shall be compounded.] 

 

(2) On the payment of such sums of money to such officer, the accused person, if in custody,  shall be discharged, the property seized shall be released and no further proceedings shall be  taken against such person or property in respect of such offence.  

(2. Inserted vide Rajasthan Act No. 04 of 1967

3. Inserted vide Rajasthan Act No. 08 of 1998

4. Omitted vide Rajasthan Act No. 28 of 1961

5. Substituted vide Rajasthan Act No. 28 of 1961

1. Inserted vide Rajasthan Act No. 30 of 1976 )