Powers of entry without search warrant

Whenever a Collector, Executive Magistrate, any Prohibition Officer or any Police Officer, not below the rank of Sub-Inspector, any officer in charge of a Police Station, or any Special Enforcement Bureau Officer not below the rank of Sub-Inspector, has reason to believe that an offence under section 7, section 7A section 7-B, section 8 section 8-A, section 8-B or section8-C has been committed and that the delay occasioned by obtaining search warrant under section 17 will prevent the execution there of, he may, after recording the reasons and the grounds of his belief, at any time by day or night enter and search any place and may seize anything found therein 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 any offence under this Act and also seize and detain any excisable or other article which he has reason to believe to be liable to confiscation under this Act.