(1)If the Lokpal has reason to believe that any document which, in his opinion, will be useful for or relevant to, any inquiry under the Act is secreted in any place he may, with the prior approval of the Governor authorise any officer subordinate to him or any officer or any investigating agency referred to in sub-section (2) of section 8, to search for and to seize such documents.(2)If the Lokpal is satisfied that any document seized under sub-section (1) would be evidence for the purpose of any inquiry under this Act and that it would be necessary to retain that document in his custody, he may so retain the said document till the completion of such inquiry :Provided that where such document is seized before the commencement of such inquiry, the Lokpal shall return the document before the expiration of a period of one year from the date on which it is seized unless such inquiry has been commenced before such expiration.Explanation. - For the purposes, of this sub-section an inquiry in respect of a complaint -(a)shall be deemed to have commenced on the date on which the Lokpal forwards a copy of the complaint to the competent authority under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 13.(b)shall be deemed to have been completed on the date on which the Lokpal closes the case under section 16.(3)The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, relating to searches shall, so far as may be, apply to searches under this section subject to the modification that sub-section (6) of section 165 of the said Code shall have effect as if for the word "Magistrate" wherever it occurs, the words "Lokpal or any officer authorised by him" were substituted.
