Section 8A. Compounding of offences

[8-A. (1) Any offence punishable under this Act may, subject to any general or special order of the State Government in this behalf, be compounded by the Licensing Authority, either before or after the institution of the prosecution, on realization of such amount of composition fee as he thinks fit not exceeding the maximum amount of fine fixed for the offence. (2) Where the offence is so compounded, (a) before the institution of the prosecution, the offender shall not be liable to prosecution for such offence and shall, if in custody, be set at liberty ; (b) after the institution of the prosecution the composition shall amount to acquittal of the offender.]1