Power of Excise Officers to investigate offences punishable under this Act.

1. (1) The1[State] Government may by notification invest any excise officer, not below the rank of [Inspector]2 with power to investigate any offence punishable under this Act, committed within the limits of the area in which the officer exercises jurisdiction.
2. (2) Every officer so empowered may within those limits exercise the same powers in respect of such investigation as an officer incharge of a police station may exercise in a cognizable case under the provisions of [Chapter XII of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973.]1

¹ Substituted for the word ``Provincial'' by the Adaptation of Laws order, 1950.

² Substituted vide Punjab Act No. 20 of 1998 for "sub-inspector".

¹ Substituted vide Punjab Act No. 20 of 1998.