Power of entry and search.

(1) It shall be lawful for any police officer not below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police authorised by the State Government in this behalf by general or special order in writing:- (a) to enter, if necessary by fore, whether by day or night, with such assistance as he considers necessary, any premises which he has reason to suspect are being used for purposes connected with the promotion or a conduct of any lottery except the lotteries which are being organized by any State Government, Union Territory Administration or the Government of India itself, in contravention of the provisions of this Act; (b) to search the premises and the person whom he may find therein; (c) to take into custody and produce before a magistrate all such persons whom he has reason to believe to be guilty of an offence punishable under this Act or against whom a reasonable complaint has been made or credible information has ben received or a reasonable suspicion exists of their having been concerned with the user of such premises for purposes connected with or with the promotion or conduct of any lottery except the lotteries which are being organized by any State Government, Union Territory Administration or the Government of India itself, in contravention of the provisions of this Act; and (d) to seize all things found therein which are intended to be used or reasonably suspected to have been used in connection with such lottery. (2)All searches under this section shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.