Penalty on Excise Officers making vexatious search, seizure, detention or arrest or. refusing duty, or being guilty of cowardice

If any Excise Officer — (a) Without reasonable grounds of suspicion, searches or causes to be searched, any place, under colour of exercising any power conferred by this Act, or (b) vexatiously and unnecessarily seizes any property of any person on the pretence of seizing or searching for any article liable to confiscation under this Act, or (c) vexatiously and unnecessarily detains, searches or arrests any person, or (d) without lawful ceases or refuses to perform, or withdraws himself from, the duties of his office unless expressly allowed to do so in writing by the collector or unless he has given to his immediate superior two months’ notice in writing of his intention to do so, or (e) is guilty of cowardice, he shall be liable to imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or to fine which may extend to Rs. 1,000, or to both.