Criminal Procedure Code · Updated to 1 May 2023 · Chapter XIII
116A. Search and seizure without warrant
Feedback & supportWhenever it appears to any police officer not below the rank of Inspector that there is reasonable cause to suspect that there is concealed or deposited in any place any evidence of the commission of a security offence or any offence relating to an organized crime and such police officer has reasonable grounds for believing that, by reason of delay in obtaining a search warrant, the object of the search is likely to be frustrated, he may—
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enter any premises and there search for, seize and take possession of, any book, document, record, account or data, or other article;
inspect, make copies of, or take extracts from, any book, document, record, account or data;
search any person who is in or on such premises, and for the purpose of such search detain such person and remove him to such place as may be necessary to facilitate such search, and seize and detain such article, container or receptacle;
break open, examine, and search any article, container or receptacle; or
stop, search, and seize any conveyance.
Whenever it is necessary so to do, a police officer conducting a search under subsection (1) may—
break open any outer or inner door or window of any premises and enter into, or otherwise forcibly enter the premises and every part thereof;
remove by force any obstruction to such entry, search, seizure or removal; or
detain any person found in or on any premises or in any conveyance searched under subsection (1) until such premises or conveyance has been searched.
No person who is detained under paragraph (2)(c) shall be searched except by a person who is of the same gender as the person to be searched.
For the purpose of this section, “security offence” means a security offence as specified under the First Schedule to the Security
offence
“offence” means any act or omission made punishable by any law for the time being in force;
Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 [Act 747].
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