Section 23B. Power to search.

1[23B. Power to search.--If any gazetted officer of the Central or a State Government authorised by the Central Government 2[or a State Government, as the case may be,] in this behalf by general or special order has reason to believe that any mineral has been raised in contravention of the provisions of this Act or rules made thereunder or any document or thing in relation to such mineral is secreted in any place 2[or vehicle], he may search for such mineral, document or thing and the provisions of section 100 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), shall apply to every such search.]