21Penalty for owning or keeping place used for entering into forward contracts in goods

Any person who--

(a) owns or keeps a place other man that of a recognised association, which is used for the purpose of entering into or making or performing, whether wholly or in part, any forward contracts in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act and knowingly permits such place to be used for such purposes, or

(b) without the permission of Central Government, organises, or assists in organising, or becomes a member of, any association, other than a recognised association, for the purpose of assisting in entering into or making or performing, whether wholly or in part, any forward contracts in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act, or

(c) manages, controls or assists in keeping any place other man that of a recognised association, which is used for the purpose of entering into or making or performing, whether wholly or in part, any forward contracts in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or at which such forward contracts are recorded or adjusted, or rights or liabilities arising out of such forward contracts are adjusted, regulated or enforced in any manner whatsoever, or

(d) not being a member of a recognised association, willfully represents to, or induces, any person to believe that he is a member of a recognised association or that forward contracts can be entered into or made or performed, whether wholly or in part, under this Act through him, or

(e) not being a member of a recognised association or his agent authorised as such under the rules or by-laws of such association, canvasses, advertises or touts in any manner, either for himself or on behalf of any other person, for any business connected with forward contracts in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act, or

(f) joins, gathers, or assists in gathering at any place, other than the place of business specified in the bye-laws of a recognised association, any person or persons for making bids or offers or for entering into or making or performing, whether wholly or in part, any forward contracts in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act, or

(g) makes, publishes or circulates any statement or information which is false and which he either knows or believes to be false, affecting or tending to affect the course of business in forward contracts in respect of goods to which the provisions of section 15 have been made applicable, ¹[or]

¹[(h) manipulates or attempts to manipulate prices in respect of forward contracts for the sale or purchase of any goods specified in any notification under section 15, in any area specified in that notification,]

²[shall, on conviction, be punishable--

(i) for a first offence, with imprisonment which may extend to two years, or with fine of not less than one thousand rupees, or with both;

(ii) for a second or subsequent offence, with imprisonment which may extend to two years and also with fine: provided that in the absence of special and adequate reasons to the contrary to be entioned in the judgment of the court, the imprisonment shall not be less than one month and the fine shall not be less than one thousand rupees.]