Power to arrest without warrant

(1) Any Forest Officer or Police Officer may, without orders from a Magistrate and without a warrant, arrest any person reasonably suspected of having been concerned in any forest offence punishable with imprisonment for one month or upwards, if such person refuses to give his name and residence or gives a name or residence believed to be false or if there is reason to believe that he will abscond.

(2) Every Officer making an arrest under this section shall without unnecessary delay, take or send the person arrested before a Magistrate having jurisdiction in the case or to the Officer incharge of the nearest Police Station.

(3) Any Forest Officer or Police Officer who vexatious or maliciously arrests any person on the pretence that he is suspected of having been concerned in any forest offence or otherwise as provided by sub-section (1) of this section shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to Rs. 500 or with both.

(4) No Forest Officer or Police Officer shall detain in custody a person arrested under sub-section (1) or this Section for a longer period than under the circumstances of the case is reasonable and such period shall not exceed twenty-four hours exclusive of the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the Magistrate’s Court having jurisdiction in the case.