(1)[Any Excise Officer or a Police Officer] [Substituted in place of word 'Any excise Officer' by the Amendment Act 9 of 1981.] or other person exercising powers under this Act, or under the rules made thereunder, who,-(a)without reasonable ground of suspicion searches or causes to be searched any place;(b)vexatiously and unnecessarily detains, searches or arrests any person;(c)vexatiously and unnecessarily seizes the movable property of any person, on pretence of seizing or searching for any article liable to confiscation under this Act;(d)commits, as such officer, any other act to the injury of any person, without having reason to believe that, such act is required for the execution of his duty;shall, on conviction before a Magistrate, be punished with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees.(2)Any person wilfully and maliciously giving false information and so causing an arrest or a search to be made under this Act shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with both.
