Bail restrictions for serious excise offences: public prosecutor must be heard before release on bail.

Sections 13 and 13A amend the Central Excise Act to empower authorised Central Excise officers to arrest persons suspected of offences, require prompt production before a Magistrate, equate excise officers' release powers to those of an officer in charge for non serious offences, make offences punishable with less than three years bailable and those punishable with three years or more cognizable, require opportunity for the public prosecutor to oppose bail in serious offences and Magistrate satisfaction of non guilt and low risk before granting bail, permit specified exceptions for juveniles, women and the sick or infirm, and restrict police investigations absent Central Government authorisation.

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