Section 48: Investigation of Offence

1) Where any complaint is received about any offence committed or about to be committed as per Section 47 or if it comes to the notice of the Fund directly or indirectly through any other means, the Executive Director may designate a subordinate officer-level staff as the investigation officer and cause to carry out an investigation of the concerned offence.

2) For investigation of the offence as per sub-section (1) or while collecting the evidence, the investigation office shall enjoy all the powers in par with police personnel as per the prevalent law to arrest those involved in the offence, search any location related to the offence, take under one’s control documents and other goods related to the offence, record statement and prepare incident report.

3) If, upon investigation as per sub-section (2), the investigation officer finds sufficient ground to show that the accused is guilty from the evidence that has been received, then after having taken the statement of the accused, the Investigation Officer may release the person on a general date or on bail or surety, by explaining the reasons for the same, or can initiate action by keeping him/her under custody for not more than seven days at a time for a maximum of twenty-five days with the approval of the case hearing official, in case the accused fails to deposit the bail amount or surety.

4) The investigation officer shall take the opinion of the public prosecutor while filing a case under his/her name following investigation pursuant to this Section.

5) It shall be the duty of all concerned, including the police, to provide necessary support to the investigation officer in the investigation work pursuant to this Section.