Power of seizure and detention

Power of seizure and detention.—

1. (1) Subject to such restrictions as may be prescribed, any officer of the Excise, Police, Customs or Land Revenue Department not below such rank as may be prescribed, and any other person duly authorized in this behalf by the Government, may seize and detain any [excisable article, foreign liquor] [or other article] which he has reason to believe to be liable to confiscation under this Act and may search any person, vessel, raft, vehicle, animal, package, receptacle or covering upon whom, or in or upon which, he may have reasonable cause to suspect any such [excisable article, foreign liquor] or other article to be or to be concealed.
2. (2) Where as a result of such search, no [excisable article, foreign liquor] or other article is actually found to be concealed on such person, vessel, raft, vehicle, animal, package, receptacle or covering, a certificate to that effect shall be given in the prescribed form by the officer to the person concerned.