Power of entry, search, seizure etc.

(1) Any forest officer not below the rank of a Range Forest Officer or any Police Officer not below the rank of a Sub-Inspector or any other person authorised by the State Government in this behalf, may, with a view to securing compliance with the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder or to satisfying himself that the said provisions have been complied with-

(i) stop and search any person, boat, vehicle or receptacle used or intended to be used for the transport of any minor forest produce:

(ii) enter and search any place;

(iii) seize minor forest produce in respect of which he suspects that any provision of this Act or the rules made thereunder has been, is being or is about to be, contravened, alongwith the receptacle containing such produce or the vehicle or boat used in carrying such produce.

(2) Every person seizing any minor forest produce or other property under clause (iii) of sub-section (1) shall place on such produce or other property a mark indicating that the same has been so seized.

(3) Any forest officer not below the rank of a Range Forest Officer who has seized any property other than a minor forest produce, under clause (iii) of sub-section (1) may release the same on the execution by the owner thereof of a bond for the production of the property so released, whenever required.

(4) The minor forest produce and other property seized under clause (iii) of sub-section (1) shall be kept in the custody of the forest officer not below the