Power of Entry and Inspection

(1) Any Officer of the Excise Department not below the rank of Assistant Inspector of Excise and any Police Officer not below the rank of sub-Inspector of Police, and any person authorised in this behalf by the State Government who has reason to believe, from personal knowledge or from information received from any person that any liquor, material, utensil, implement or apparatus in respect of which an offence punishable under this Act or the rule is kept or concealed in any building, vessel, or enclosed placed, may, between sunrise and sunset: (a) enter into any such building vessel or place; (b) in case of resistance break open any door and remove any other obstacle to such entry; (c) seize such liquor, material, utensil, implement or apparatus, and any document or apparatus. or other articles which may furnish evidence of the commission of the offence; (d) detain, search and arrest any person whom he has reason to believe to have committed an offence against this Act relating to such liquor, material, utensil, implement or apparatus Provided that if such officer has reason to believe that a search warrant cannot be obtained without affording opportunity for the concealment of evidence or facilitate the escape of an offender, he may, after recording the grounds of his belief, enter and search such buildings, vessel or enclosed place at any time between sunset and sunrise. (2) Where on officer receive down any information under sub- section (1). or records grounds for his belief under the previse thereto, he snail forthwith send a copy thereof to his immediate official superior.