(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 Lokayukta or an Upalokayukta 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 Lokayukta or an Upalokayukta shall have all the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 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 commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents;
(f) such other matters as may be prescribed.
(3) Any proceeding before the Lokayukta or an Upalokayukta shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of section 193 of the Indian Penal Code.
(4) No person shall be required or authorised by virtue of this Act to furnish any such information or answer any such question or produce so much of any document,-
(a) as might prejudice the affairs of the State of Karnataka or the security or defence or international relations of India (including India's relations 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 State Government or any Committee of that 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.