(1) It shall be the duty of the designated partner and partners of the limited liability partnership--

(a) to preserve and to produce before an inspector or any person authorised by him in this behalf with the previous approval of the Central Government, all books and papers of, or relating to, the limited liability partnership or, as the case may be, the other entity, which are in their custody or power; and

(b) otherwise to give to the inspector all assistance in connection with the investigation which they are reasonably able to give.

(2) The inspector may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, require any entity other than an entity referred to in sub-section (1) to furnish such information to, or produce such books and papers before him or any person authorised by him in this behalf, with the previous approval of that Government, as he may consider necessary, if the furnishing of such information or the production of such books and papers is relevant or necessary for the purposes of his investigation.

(3) The inspector may keep in his custody any books and papers produced under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) for thirty days and thereafter shall return the same to the limited liability partnership, other entity or individual by whom or on whose behalf the books and papers are produced:

Provided that the inspector may call for the books and papers if they are needed again:

Provided further that if certified copies of the books and papers produced under sub-section (2) are furnished to the inspector, he shall return those books and papers to the entity or person concerned.

(4) An inspector may examine on oath--

(a) any of the persons referred to in sub-section (1);

(b) with the previous approval of the Central Government, any other person in relation to the affairs of the limited liability partnership or any other entity, as the case may be; and

(c) may administer an oath accordingly and for that purpose may require any of those persons to appear before him personally.

(5) If any person fails without reasonable cause or refuses--

(a) to produce before an inspector or any person authorised by him in this behalf with the previous approval of the Central Government any book or paper which it is his duty under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) to produce; or

(b) to furnish any information which is his duty under sub-section (2) to furnish; or

(c) to appear before the inspector personally when required to do so under sub-section (4) or to answer any question which is put to him by the inspector in pursuance of that sub-section; or

(d) to sign the notes of any examination,

he shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than two thousand rupees but which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees and with a further fine which shall not be less than fifty rupees but which may extend to five hundred rupees for every day after the first day after which the default continues.

(6) The notes of any examination under sub-section (4) shall be taken down in writing and signed by the person whose examination was made on oath and a copy of such notes shall be given to the person so examined on oath and thereafter be used as an evidence by the inspector.