Powers of Excise Officer to search, seize etc.

(1) Whenever any Excise Officer not below such rank as the State Government may, by notification, specify has reason to believe that an offence punishable under this Act, has been, is being, or is likely to be, committed by any person, in any place, and that a search warrant can not be obtained without affording the offender an opportunity of escape or of concealing evidence of the offence, he may, at any time, by day or night, enter and search such place. (2) Any Excise Officer specified in sub-section (1) may seize anything found in such place 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 such offence as aforesaid.