Punishment for vexatious search, seizure, arrest, etc.

Any officer or person exercising powers under this Act, who – (a) without reasonable ground of suspicion, searches or causes to be searched any place, or (b) vexatiously and unnecessarily seized the property of any person on the pretence of seizing or searching for anything liable to confiscation under this Act, or (c) vexatiously and unnecessarily detains, searches or arrests any person, or (d) in any other way maliciously exceeds or abuses his lawful powers, shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.