Section 32B of Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 - Compounding of certain offences.

Section 32B Compounding of certain offences: Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), any offence punishable under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 13, Section 28 and Section 28A of this Act (whether committed by a company or any officer thereof), not being an offence punishable with imprisonment only, or with imprisonment and also with fine, may, either before or after the instructions of any prosecution, be compounded by the Central Government or by any State Government or any officer authorized in this behalf Central Government or a State Government, on payment for credit to that Government of such sum as that Government may, by rules made in this behalf, specify:

Provided that such sum shall not, in any case, exceed the maximum amount of the fine which may be imposed under this Act for the offences so compounded:

Provided further that in cases of subsequent offences, the same shall not be compoundable.

(2) When the accused has been committed for trial or when he has been convicted and an appeal is pending, no composition for the offences shall be allowed without the leave of the court to which he is committed or, as the case may be, before which the appeal is to be heard.

(3) Where an offence is compounded under sub-section (1), no proceeding or further proceeding, as the case may be , shall be taken against the offender in respect of the offences so compounded and the offender, if in custody, shall be released forthwith.]

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1. Ins. by Act 26 of 2008, s. 13; (w.e.f. 10-8-2009)