Section 15(1) in The Foreign Trade (Regulation) Rules, 1993
(1)Any person authorised by the Central Government under sub-section (1) of section 10 (hereinafter called "the authorised person") may, at any reasonable time-(a)enter and search any premises where the goods or materials which are liable to confiscation under the provisions of the Act are suspected to have been kept or concealed, stored or processed, manufactured, traded or supplied or received for the purposes of import or export or where any books of accounts or documents or things [including 'computer resource' as defined under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000), hereinafter referred to as IT Act, containing information in the form of 'electronic record' which, in his opinion, shall be useful for, or relevant to any proceedings under the Act are suspected to have been kept or concealed; or(b)enter and search any premises from which the services or technology or goods connected with such services or technology which are liable to confiscation under the provisions of the Act, are suspected to have been provided, supplied, received, consumed or utilised for the purpose of import or export or where any books of accounts or documents or things [including 'computer resource' as defined under the IT Act, containing information in the form of 'electronic record] which, in his opinion, shall be useful for, or relevant to any proceedings under the Act are suspected to have been kept or concealed:Provided that provisions of clause (b) shall be applicable, in case of import or export of services or technology,only when the service or technology provider is availing benefit under the foreign trade policy or is dealing withspecified services or specified technologies;(c)break open the lock of any door, box, locker, safe, almirah or other receptacle for exercising the powers conferred by clauses (i) and (ii) where the keys thereof are not available;(d)search any person who has got out of, or is about to get into, or is in the premises, if the authorised officer has reason to suspect that such person has secreted about his person any such books of account or documents [including documents maintained in the form of 'electronic record' as defined under the IT Act] or things which, in his opinion, shall be useful for, or relevant to any proceedings under the Act; and(e)may inspect such goods or goods connected with services or technology, materials, books of accounts, documents or things [including 'computer resource' as defined under the IT Act containing information in the form of 'electronic record'] and may take such notes, copies or extracts therefrom as he may think fit or require any person who is found to be in possession or control of any books of account or other documents [including documents maintained in the form of 'electronic record], to afford the authorised officer the necessary facility to inspect such books of account or other documents.
