Section 73: Prohibition of destroying or damaging essential commodities

1) No person shall, having committed any offence under this Chapter, destroy, damage or set on fire, or cause to be done so, any commodity which is regarded as an essential commodity under the law or public or private property or disorder such commodity or property by himself or herself or cause it to be disordered by another person, steal such commodity or property or knowingly buy or sell, or cause to be bought or sold, any commodity obtained by theft.

2) A person who commits the offence referred to in sub-section (1) shall be liable to an additional sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding ten thousand rupees or both the sentences, in addition to the sentence imposable for any offence referred to in this Chapter.

3) Where such commodity or property has already been destroyed or damaged from the offence referred to in sub-section (1), a compensation equal to the claimed amount shall also be recovered from such person.

4) Where the person who has committed the offence referred to in sub-section (1) is identified, such person, and where such person is not so identified, the person who induces or orders the commission of such act shall be considered to have committed the offence.