(l) Whenever an officer of the Excise Department not below such rank as the 1[State Government] may prescribe has reason to believe that an offence punishable under this Act has been, is being or is likely to be committed in any place, and that search warrant cannot be obtained without affording the offender an opportunity of escape or of concealing evidence of the offence he may, at any time by day or night enter and search such place: -
Provided that such officer shall before entering such place record the grounds of his belief as aforesaid.
(2) Every Excise Officer as aforesaid may seize anything found in such place which he has reason to believe to be liable to confiscation under this Act and may detain and search and if he thinks proper, arrest any person found in such place whom he has reason to believe to be guilty of such offence as aforesaid.
Footnotes in the official text
- 1.Substituted vide Rajasthan Act. No. 38 of 1957