Power of entry and search

Power of entry and search: -

1. (1) Any Police Officer-
   • (i) in the cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, not below the rank of an Inspector authorised by the Commissioner of Police, by general or special order in writing, and
   • (ii) elsewhere, not below the rank of an Inspector authorised by a special warrant issued in each case by a Magistrate of the first class or a Superintendent of Police or by an Assistant or Deputy Superintendent of Police specially empowered by the Government in this behalf-
   • (a) may enter, with the assistance of such persons as may be found necessary whether by night or by day, and by force, if necessary, any house, room or place which, he has reason to suspect, is used for purposes connected with the promotion or conduct of any lottery in contravention of the provisions of this Act;
   • (b) may search all parts of the house, room or place which he shall have so entered, the persons whom he may find therein and also such persons as may be specified by name in the order or warrant;
   • (c) may take into custody and produce before a magistrate all such persons as are concerned or against whom a reasonable compliant has been made or credible information has been received or a reasonable suspicion exists of their having been concerned with the user of such house, room or place for purposes connected with, or with the promotion or conduct of, any lottery in contravention of the provisions of this Act; and
   • (d) may seize all things found therein which reasonably suspected to have been used or intended to be used, in connection with such lottery: Provided that no Police Officer shall be so authorised unless the Commissioner of Police, the Magistrate, the Superintendent of Police or the Assistant or Deputy Superintendent of Police concerned is satisfied, upon making such enquiry as he may think necessary, that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the said house, room or place is being used for purposes connected with the promotion or conduct of a lottery in contravention of the provisions of this Act.
2. (2) All searches under this section shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the [Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973] [Central Act 2 of 1974].