Central Excise Act, 1944
14. POWER TO SUMMON PERSONS TO GIVE EVIDENCE AND
PRODUCE DOCUMENTS IN INQUIRIES UNDER THIS ACT.
(1) Any Central Excise Officer duly empowered by the Central
Government in this behalf, shall have power to summon any person whose
attendance he considers necessary either to give evidence or to produce a
document or any other thing in any inquiry which such officer is making for any
of the purposes of this Act. A summons to produce documents or other things may
be for the production of certain specified documents or things or for the
production of all documents or things of a certain description in the
possession or under the control of the person summoned.
(2) All persons so summoned shall be bound to attend, either in
person or by an authorized agent, as such officer may direct; and all persons
so summoned shall be bound to state the truth upon any subject respecting which
they are examined or make statements and to produce such documents and other
things as may be required :
Provided that the exemptions under sections 132 and 133
of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) shall be applicable to
requisitions for attendance under this section.
(3) Every such inquiry as aforesaid shall be deemed to be a
"judicial proceeding" within the meaning of section 193 and section
228 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860).