Custom Act, 1962
125.
OPTION TO PAY FINE IN LIEU OF CONFISCATION. –
(1)
Whenever confiscation of any goods is authorised by this act, the officer
adjudging it may, in the case of any goods, the importation or exportation
whereof is prohibited under this Act or under any other law for the time being
in force, and shall, in the case of any other goods, give to the owner of the
goods or, where such owner is not known, the person from whose possession or
custody such goods have been seized, an option to pay in lieu of confiscation
such fine as the said officer thinks fit :
Provided
that, without prejudice to the
provisions of the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 115, such fine shall
not exceed the market price of the goods confiscated, less in the case of
imported goods the duty chargeable thereon.
(2)
Where any fine in lieu of confiscation of goods is imposed under sub-section
(1), the owner of such goods or the person referred to in sub-section (1),
shall, in addition, be liable to any duty and charges payable in respect of
such goods.