Section 54B: Penalty for adulteration resulting in death etc

¹[(1) Whoever mixes or permits to be mixed with any liquor or intoxicating drug any noxious substance or any substance, which is likely to cause disability or grievous hurt or death to human beings, shall, on conviction, be punishable. -

(i) if, as a result of such an act, death is caused to any person, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than two years but which may be for life, and with fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to ten lakh rupees;

(ii) if, as a result of such an act, disability or grievous hurt is caused to any person, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than two years but which may be for life, and with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees; and

(iii) in any other case, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to ten years, and with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to two lakh and fifty thousand rupees.

(2) Whoever omits to take reasonable precautions to prevent the mixing of any noxious substance or any substance which is likely to cause disability or grievous hurt or death to human beings, with any liquor or intoxicating drug shall, on conviction, be punishable,-

(i) if, as a result of such omission, death is caused to any person, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten lakh rupees;

(ii) if, as a result of such omission, disability or grievous hurt is caused to any person, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than two years but which may be for life, and with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees; and

(iii) in any other case, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to ten years, and with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to two lakh and fifty thousand rupees.

(3) Whoever possesses any liquor or intoxicating drug in which any liquor or intoxicating drug in which any substance referred to in sub-section (1) is mixed, knowing that such substance is mixed with such liquor or intoxicating drug shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to ten years, and with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees.

Explanation. - For the purposes of this section and section 54C the expression "grievous hurt" shall have the same meaning as is in section 320 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Central Act No. 45 of 1860).]