17. (1) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of this Ordinance or any rule, order or direction issued thereunder shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. (2) Any Court trying an offence under this Ordinance may direct that the whole or a part of the jute or jute manufactures in respect of which the Court is satisfied that the offence has been committed shall be forfeited to Government. (3) Where any person as aforesaid is a company or a body corporate, every director, manager, secretary or other officer, and every agent and servant thereof, and in the case of an unlimited company or a company limited by guarantees or a proprietary or partnership firm, also every member, proprietor or partner, as the case may be, shall, unless he proves that the contravention took place without his knowledge or that he exercised due diligence to prevent such contravention, be punishable as if he had contravened the provisions of this Ordinance.