(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, for the purpose of any investigation (including the preliminary inquiry, if any before such investigation) under this Act, the Lok Ayukta or an Upa-Lok Ayukta may require any public servant or any other person who, in his opinion, is able to furnish information or produce documents relevant to the investigation to furnish any such information or produce any such document.

(2) For the purpose of any such investigation (including the preliminary inquiry), the Lok Ayukta or an Upa-Lok Ayukta shall have all the powers of a Civil Court, while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act 5 of 1908), in respect of the following matters, namely: -

(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath.

(b) requiring the discovery and production, of any document;

(c) receiving evidence on affidavits,

(d) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;

(e) issuing commission for the examination of witnesses or documents,

(f) such other mattes as may be prescribed.

(3) Any proceeding before the Lok Ayukta or an Upa-Lok Ayukta shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of section 193 of the Indian Penal Code (Central Act 45 of 1860).

(4) No person shall be required or authorised by virtue of this Act to furnish any such information or answer nay such question or produce so much of any document, -

(a) as might prejudice the affairs of the State of the security or defence or international relations of India (including India's relation with the Government of any other country or with any international organisation);

(b) as might involve the disclosure of proceedings of the Cabinet of the Government of Kerala or any Committee of the Cabinet and for the purpose of this sub-section a certificate issued by the Chief Secretary certifying that any information, answer or portion of a document is of the nature specified in clause (a) or clause (b) shall be binding and conclusive.

(5) For the purpose of investigation under this Act, no person shall be compelled to give any evidence or produce any document which he could not be compelled to give or produce in proceedings before a court.