(1) Where the Board, on receipt of a complaint under section 217 or has reasonable grounds to believe that any insolvency professional agency or insolvency professional or an information utility has contravened any of the provisions of the Code or the rules or regulations made or directions issued by the Board thereunder, it may, at any time by an order in writing, direct any person or persons to act as an investigating authority to conduct an inspection or investigation of the insolvency professional agency or insolvency professional or an information utility.
(2) The inspection or investigation carried out under sub-section (1) of this section shall be conducted within such time and in such manner
(3) The Investigating Authority may, in the course of such inspection or investigation, require any other person who is likely to have any relevant document, record or information to furnish the same, and such person shall be bound to furnish such document, record or information: Provided that the Investigating Authority shall provide detailed reasons to such person before requiring him to furnish such document, record or information.
(4) The Investigating Authority may, in the course of its inspection or investigation, enter any building or place where they may have reasons to believe that any such document, record or information relating to the subject-matter of the inquiry may be found and may seize any such document, record or information or take extracts or copies therefrom, subject to the provisions of section 100 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, insofar as they may be applicable.
(5) The Investigating Authority shall keep in its custody the books, registers, other documents and records seized under this section for such period not later than the conclusion of the investigation as it considers necessary and thereafter shall return the same to the concerned person from whose custody or power they were seized: Provided that the Investigating Authority may, before returning such books, registers, other documents and record as aforesaid, place identification marks on them or any part thereof.
(6) A detailed report of inspection or investigation shall be submitted to the Board by the Investigating Authority.
2.11.3:Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Inspection and Investigation) Regulations, 2017
3. Inspection by the Board.
(1) The Board shall conduct inspection of such number of service providers every year, as may be decided by the Board from time to time.
(2) Without prejudice to provisions of sub-regulation (1), the Board may conduct inspection of a service provider under section 218.
(3) The Board may, for the purposes of this regulation, by an order, direct an Inspecting Authority to conduct an inspection of records of a service provider for purposes specified under sub-regulation (4).
(4) The purposes under sub-regulation (3) include –
(a) to ensure that the records are being maintained by a service provider in the manner required under the relevant regulations;
(b) to ascertain whether adequate internal control systems, procedures and safeguards have been established and are being followed by a service provider to fulfill its obligations under the relevant regulations;
(c) to ascertain whether any circumstance exists which would render a service provider unfit or ineligible;
(d) to ascertain whether the provisions of the Code, or the rules, regulations and guidelines made thereunder and the directions issued by the Board, if any, are being complied with;
(e) to inquire into the complaints received from clients or any other person on any matter having a bearing on the activities of a service provider; and
(f) such other purpose as may be deemed fit by the Board in furtherance of the objectives of the Code.
(5) The order referred to in sub-regulation (3) shall contain-
(a) scope of inspection;
(b) composition of Inspecting Authority;
(c) timelines for conducting the inspection;
(d) reporting of progress in inspection;
(e) submission of interim inspection report, if any; and
(f) submission of inspection report.
(6) The Board and the Inspecting Authority shall make every effort to keep the inspection confidential and to cause the least burden on, or disruption to, the business of the service provider under inspection.
2.11.4:Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Inspection and Investigation) Regulations, 2017
4. Conduct of Inspection.
(1) The Inspecting Authority shall serve a notice of inspection to the service provider at least 10 days before the commencement of inspection:
Provided that where the Inspecting Authority is satisfied that the notice will cause undue delay in inspection or there is an apprehension that records of the service provider may be destroyed, mutilated, altered, falsified or secreted, after the notice is served, it may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, dispense with such notice.
(2) The Inspecting Authority may require the service provider or an associated person to submit records, as may be required, before the commencement of inspection.
(3) The Inspecting Authority may visit the offices of the service provider for conducting the on-site inspection.
(4) It shall be the duty of the service provider and an associated person to produce before the Inspecting Authority such records in his custody or control and furnish to the Inspecting Authority such statements and information relating to its activities within such time as the Inspecting Authority may require.
(5) The service provider shall allow the Inspecting Authority to have access to the premises occupied by such service provider or by any other person on its behalf and extend facility for examination of any records in the possession of the service provider or any such other person and provide copies of records or other material which in the opinion of the Inspecting Authority are relevant for the inspection.
(6) The Inspecting Authority shall, in the course of inspection, may examine and record statements of any associated person of the service provider in relation to the affairs of his business.
(7) It shall be the duty of the service provider and an associated person to give to the Inspecting Authority all assistance which the Inspecting Authority may reasonably require in connection with the inspection.
2.11.7:Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Inspection and Investigation) Regulations, 2017
7. Investigation by the Board.
(1) The Board may conduct investigation of a service provider under section 218.
(2) The Board may, for the purposes of this regulation, by an order, direct an Investigating Authority to conduct an investigation of the affairs of the service provider and to report thereon to the Board.
(3) The order referred to in sub-regulation (2) shall contain the following particulars: –
(a) scope of investigation in terms of records, activities, places, and persons;
(b) composition of Investigating Authority;
(c) timelines for conducting investigation;
(d) reporting of progress in investigation;
(e) submission of interim investigation report, if any; and
(f) submission of investigation report.
(4) The Board and the Investigating Authority shall make every effort to keep investigation confidential and to cause the least burden on, or disruption to, the business of the service provider under investigation.
(5) The Board may, at any time, modify the order referred to under sub-regulation (2) to enlarge the scope of investigation or other terms of investigation, for reasons to be recorded in writing.
2.11.8:Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Inspection and Investigation) Regulations, 2017
8. Conduct of Investigation.
(1) The Investigating Authority shall serve a notice of investigation to the service provider at least 10 days before the commencement of investigation:
Provided that where the Investigating Authority is satisfied that the notice will cause undue delay in investigation or there is an apprehension that records of the service provider may be destroyed, mutilated, altered, falsified or secreted, after the notice is served, it may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, dispense with such notice.
(2) The Investigating Authority may require the service provider or an associated person to submit records as may be required, before the commencement of investigation.
(3) The Investigating Authority may visit the offices of the service provider for conducting the on-site investigation.
(4) It shall be the duty of the service provider and an associated person to produce before the Investigating Authority such records in his custody or control and furnish to the Investigating Authority such statements and information relating to its activities within such time as the Investigating Authority may require.
(5) The service provider shall allow the Investigating Authority to have access to the premises occupied by such service provider or by any other person on its behalf and extend facility for examination of any records in the possession of the service provider or any such other person and provide copies of records or other material which in the opinion of the Investigating Authority are relevant for the investigation.
(6) The Investigating Authority shall, in the course of investigation, may examine and record statements of any associated person of the service provider in relation to the affairs of his business and for that purpose may require any of those persons to appear before it personally.
(7) Notes of any examination referred to in sub-regulation (6) shall be recorded and shall be read over to, or by, and signed by, the person examined.
(8) It shall be the duty of the service provider and an associated person to give to the Investigating Authority all assistance which the Investigating Authority may reasonably require in connection with the investigation.
(9) The Investigating Authority may keep in its custody any record produced to it up to six months and thereafter shall return the same to the person by whom or on whose behalf the records were produced:
Provided that it may call for these records again if it considers necessary and shall give certified copies of these to the person by whom or on whose behalf these were produced, if required by him.
(10) Where in the course of investigation, the Investigating Authority has reasonable grounds to believe that the records of, or relating to, a service provider or an associated person in any manner, may be destroyed, mutilated, altered, falsified or secreted, the Investigating Authority may make an application to the competent court having jurisdiction for an order for the seizure of such records.
(11) After considering the application under sub-regulation (10) and hearing the Investigating Authority, if necessary, the competent court may, by order, authorise the Investigating Authority –
(a) to enter, with such assistance, as may be required, the place or places where such records are kept;
(b) to search that place or those places in the manner specified in the order; and
(c) to seize records, it considers necessary, for the purposes of the investigation.
(12) The Investigating Authority may requisition the services of any police officer or any officer of the Central Government, or of both to assist him in search and seizure under the order under sub-regulation (11) and it shall be the duty of every such officer to comply with such requisition.
(13) Every search or seizure shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) relating to searches or seizures made under that Code.