Section 15. Power of search and seizure.

(1) Any Revenue Officer of the rank of Naib-Tehsildar and above and any officer of the Sericulture Department of the rank of Inspector and above, having reasonable grounds to believe that mulberry wood is, in contravention of the provisions of this Act, in the possession of a person in any place, may enter such place with the object of carrying out a search for the contraband wood and its confiscation : Provided that such search shall not be conducted otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of 1[the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)]. (2) The circumstance necessitating the search and the result of the search shall be reported at once by the officer conducting such search to the nearest Magistrate. (3) Mulberry wood found as being held in contravention of the provisions of this Act shall, pending the decision of the case by competent authority, be left on Supardnama duly witnessed with the chowkidar, lambardar, zaildar or any other respectable resident of the locality.