¹[45NB.  Disclosure of information.--(1)  Any information relating to a non-banking financial company,--

   (i)  contained in any statement or return submitted by such company under the provisions of this chapter; or

   (ii)  obtained through audit or inspection or otherwise by the Bank,

shall be treated as confidential and shall not, except otherwise provided in this section, be disclosed.

   (2)  Nothing in this section shall apply to--

   (a)  the disclosure by any non-banking financial company, with the previous permission of the Bank, of any information furnished to the Bank under sub-section (1);

   (b)  the publication by the Bank, if it considers necessary in the public interest so to do, of any information collected by it under sub-section (1) in such consolidated form as it may think fit without disclosing the name of any non-banking financial company or its borrowers;

   (c)  the disclosure or publication by the non-banking financial company or by the Bank of any such information to any other non-banking financial company or in accordance with the practice and usage customary amongst such companies or as permitted or required under any other law:

   Provided that any such information received by a non-banking financial company under this clause shall not be published except in accordance with the practice and usage customary amongst companies or as permitted or required under any other law.

   (3)  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, the Bank, if it is satisfied that, in the public interest or in the interest of the depositors or the non-banking financial company or to prevent the affairs of any non-banking financial company being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interest of the depositors, it is expedient so to do, may, either on its own motion or on being requested, furnish or communicate any information relating to the conduct of business by any non-banking financial company to any authority constituted under any law.

   (4)  Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, no court or tribunal or other authority shall compel the Bank to produce or to give inspection of any statement or other material obtained by the Bank under any provisions of this chapter.]