17. (1) The State Government may, by notification, appoint such persons as if thinks fit to be Inspectors from amongst the officers appointed under section 3 for the purposes of this Act, and define the local limits of their jurisdiction.
(2) Subject to any rules made in this behalf, an Inspector may, within the local limits of his jurisdiction
(a) enter, at all reasonable hours, with such assistance, if any, of persons in the service of the Government or any local or other public authority as he thinks fit and as approved by the Director or the person authorised by him. any premises or place for the purpose of examining any register or record or papers in connection with the audit proceedings under the orders of the Director, Auditor, or any other person in charge of the audit proceedings, and require the production thereof for inspection ;
(b) interrogate any person on the spot to elicit information;
(c) seize or take copies or sign such record or papers as may be necessary to carry out the directions of his superior officers;
(d) exercise such other powers as may be prescribed.
(3) Any person required to produce any document or thing or to give any information required by the Inspector under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be legally bound to do so within the meaning of section 175 and section 176 of the Indian Penal Code.
(4) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Act II of 1974), shall, so far as may be, apply to any search or seizure under sub-section (1) as they apply to any search or seizure made under the authority of a warrant issued under section 94 of the said Code.