Any information obtained by the Commission or members of its staff or any investigation agency in the course of, or for the purpose of any investigation under this Act and any evidence recorded or collected in connection with such investigation shall be treated as confidential, and notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (Central Act 1 of 1872), no court shall be entitled to compel the Commission or any Commissioner or any member of its staff or any investigation agency to give evidence relating to such information or produce the evidence so recorded or collected.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to the disclosure of any information or particulars-
(a) for the purpose of the investigation or in any report to be made thereon or for any action or proceedings to be taken on such report; or
(b) for the purposes of any proceedings for an offence under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (Central Act 19 of 1923) or any offence of giving or fabricating false evidence 15 under the Indian Penal Code (Central Act 45 of 1860) or for purposes of any proceeding under section 25; or
(c) for such other purposes as may be prescribed.
(3) No person shall publish any proceeding relating to a preliminary investigation under section 10 which is pending before the Commission nor shall any person publish such proceeding after such investigation is completed.
(4) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub-section (3) shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
(5) Nothing in sub-sections (3) and (4) shall apply to the publication of any report laid before the Legislative Assembly.