Section 47A in The Calcutta Suburban Police Act, 1866
47A. Power of Commissioner of Police to require attendance and obtain statements of witnesses.—
(1)If, in the course of any investigation, the Commissioner of Police has reason to believe that a cognizable offence has been committed, he may, by order in writing, require the attendance, before himself or before any officer serving under him not below the rank of Sub-Inspector, who is investigating a cognizable offence, of any person then being within the limits of the town or suburbs of Calcutta, or within thirty miles of such limits, who, from the information given or otherwise, appears to be acquainted with the facts or circumstances of the case; and such person shall attend as so required.(2)The Commissioner of Police, or any officer aforesaid may examine orally any person so attending, and may reduce into writing any statement made by him; and such person shall be bound to answer all question relating to the case put to him by the Commissioner or such officer, other than questions the answers to which would have a tendency to expose him to a criminal charge or to a penalty or forfeiture.(3)The Commissioner of Police may, in any case, forward to the Superintendent of Police of the district in which any person, from whom any information is required relating to the facts or circumstances of the case under investigation, is believed to be, such questions and such statement as may be necessary for the purpose of obtaining the information desired; and such Superintendent shall, on receipt thereof, cause such person to be examined orally, and his statement to be reduced into writing, in the same manner and subject to the same provisions as if an investigation were being made into such offence in such district, and shall forward the statement reduced into writing to the Commissioner of Police.(4)Subject to any rules made by the State Government, the Commissioner of Police may, if he thinks fit, order payment, on the part of the State Government, of the reasonable expenses of any person residing in the town or suburbs of Calcutta who attends for the purposes of any investigation before himself or any other Police-officer under this section, and shall order payment, as aforesaid, of the reasonable expenses of any person not so residing who attends as aforesaid.
