(1) No complaint against a 2[Public man]or any proceedings (whether by way of verification, inquiry or otherwise) in respect of such complaint or proceedings (including any evidence furnished, collected or recorded in relation to such complaint or in the course of or for the purpose of such proceedings) shall be disclosed or published by any person -
(a) Where3[****] the 4[Lokpal or the Up-Lokpal, as the case may be,] conducts an inquiry into such complaint under section 13 at any time before he closes the case under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 16, or as the case may be, before he makes a report in respect of the case under clause (b) of that sub-section;
(b) In any other case, before the competent authority concerned discloses or announces in the prescribed manner the findings in respect of the allegations made in such complaint;
1Substituted for words “Lokpal” by Punjab Act No. 22 of 2013, Section 8 2Substituted for word “legislator” by Punjab Act No. 1 of 1998, Section 14 (i) (a) 3Omitted by Punjab Act No. 1 of 1998, Section 14 (i) (b) 4Substituted for words “Lokpal” by Punjab Act No. 22 of 2013, Section 8 Penalty for disclosure of publication of information in respect of complaints against Legislator.
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply -
(i) to any disclosure for the purpose of this Act; or
(ii) to any disclosure or publication with respect to proceedings for any offence under this Act or any other law; or
(iii) to any disclosure or publication for such other purposes as may be approved by the competent authority.
(2) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 1[six months] or with a fine of rupees two thousand or with both.
(3) The provisions of this section shall have effect notwithstanding anything contained in any other section of this Act or in any other enactment.