Section 97 : Compounding of offences – Prosecution And Compounding Of Offences

97.Compounding of offences

(1) Any offence under the Act may, either before or after the institution of prosecution, be compounded by the Competent Authority on payment, by the person accused of the offence, to the Central Government or the State Government, as the case be, of such compounding amount in such manner as may be prescribed:
PROVIDED that nothing contained in this section shall apply to –
(a) a person who has been allowed to compound once in respect of any of the offences described under clause (a) to (g) of sub-section (1) of section 92 and the offences described under clause (m) which are relatable to offences described under clause (a) to (g) of the said sub-section;
(b) a person who has been allowed to compound once in respect of any offence (other than those in clause (a)) under the Act or under the provisions of any other SGST Act or IGST Act in relation to supplies of value exceeding one crore rupees;
(c) a person who has been accused of committing an offence under the Act which is also an offence under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act,1985 (61 of 1985), the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) or any other Act other than the CGST/SGST Act;
(d) a person who has been convicted for an offence under this Act by a court;
(e) a person who has been accused of committing an offence specified in clauses (h),(k) or (l) of sub-section (1) of section 92; and (f) any other class of persons or offences as may be prescribed:
PROVIDED FURTHER that any compounding allowed under the provision of this section shall not affect the proceedings if any, instituted under any other law:
PROVIDED ALSO that compounding shall be allowed only after making payment of tax, interest and penalty involved in such offences.

(2) The amount for compounding of offences under this section shall be as may be prescribed under the rules to be made under sub-section (1), subject to the minimum amount not being less than ten thousand rupees or fifty per cent of the tax involved, whichever is greater, and the maximum amount not being more than thirty thousand rupees or one hundred and fifty per cent of the tax, whichever is greater.

(3) On payment of such compounding amount as may be determined by the competent authority, no further proceedings shall be initiated under the Act against the accused person in respect of the same offence and any criminal proceedings, if already initiated in respect of the said offence, shall stand abated.