(1) Whenever an officer in charge of a police station or a police officer making an investigation has reasonable grounds for believing that anything necessary for the purposes of an investigation into any offence which he is authorised to investigate may be found in any place within the limits of the police station of which he is in charge, or to which he is attached, and that such thing cannot in his opinion be otherwise obtained without undue delay, such officer may, after recording in writing the grounds of his belief and specifying in such writing, so far as possible, the thing for which search is to be made, search, or cause search to be made, for such thing in any place within the limits of such station.
(2) A police officer proceeding under sub-section (1), shall, if practicable, conduct the search in person.
(3) If he is unable to conduct the search in person, and there is no other person competent to make the search present at the time, he may, after recording in writing his reasons for so doing, require any officer subordinate to him to make the search, and he shall deliver to such subordinate officer an order in writing, specifying the place to be searched, and so far as possible, the thing for which search is to be made; and such subordinate officer may thereupon search for such thing in such place.
(4) The provisions of this Code as to search-warrants and the general provisions as to searches contained in section 100 shall, so far as may be, apply to a search made under this section.
(5) Copies of any record made under sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) shall
forthwith be sent to the nearest Magistrate empowered to take cognizance of the
offence, and the owner or occupier of the place searched shall, on application,
be furnished, free of cost, with a copy of the same by the Magistrate.
Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)
161 CrPC Examination of witnesses by police
162 CrPC Statements to police not to be signed: Use of statements in evidence
163 CrPC No inducement to be offered
164 CrPC Recording of confessions and statements
164A CrPC Medical examination of the victim of rape
165 CrPC Search by police officer
166 CrPC When officer in charge of police station may require another to issue search-warrant
167 CrPC Procedure when investigation cannot be completed in twenty-four hours
168 CrPC Report of investigation by subordinate police officer
169 CrPC Release of accused when evidence deficient
170 CrPC Cases to be sent to Magistrate, when evidence is sufficient