32Cognizance of offence by courts

(1) No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class, specially empowered in this behalf, shall try any offence punishable under this Act.

(2) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act save on a complaint made by—

(a) or under the authority of the Bureau; or

(b) any police officer, not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police or equivalent; or

(c) any authority notified under sub-section (2) of section 16; or

(d) any officer empowered under the authority of the Government; or

(e) any consumer; or

(f) any association.

(3) Any police officer not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police or equivalent, may, if he is satisfied that any of the offences referred to in sub-section (3) of section 29 has been, is being, or is likely to be, committed, search and seize without warrant, the goods, die, block, machine, plate, other instruments or things involved in committing the offence, wherever found, and all the articles so seized shall, as soon as practicable, be produced before a Magistrate as prescribed under sub-section (1).

(4) The court may direct that any property in respect of which the contravention has taken place shall be forfeited to the Bureau.

(5) The court may direct that any fine, in whole or any part thereof, payable under the provisions of this Act, shall be payable to the Bureau.