17. VEXATIOUS SEARCH, SEIZURE, ETC. BY EXCISE OFFICER. (1) Any officer exercising powers under this Act or under the rules made there under who - (a) without reasonable ground of suspicion searches or causes to be searched any place, conveyance or vessel; (b) vexatiously and unnecessarily detains, searches or arrests any person; (c) vexatiously and unnecessarily seizes the moveable 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, for every such offence, be punishable with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees. (2) Any person willfully and maliciously giving false information and so causing an arrest or a search to be made under this Act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both.