33Power of investigation and inspection by Authority

¹[ ²[33. Power of investigation and inspection by Authority. --(1) The Authority may, at any time, if it considers expedient to do so by order in writing, direct any person (herein referred to as "Investigating Officer") specified in the order to investigate the affairs of any insurer or intermediary or insurance intermediary, as the case may be, and to report to the Authority on any investigation made by such Investigating Officer:

Provided that the Investigating Officer may, wherever necessary, employ any auditor or actuary or both for the purpose of assisting him in any investigation under this section.

(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 210 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013), the Investigating Officer may, at any time, and shall, on being directed so to do by the Authority, cause an inspection to be made by one or more of his officers of the books of account of any insurer or intermediary or insurance intermediary, as the case may be, and the Investigating Officer shall supply to the insurer or intermediary or insurance intermediary, as the case may be, a copy of the report on such inspection.

(3) It shall be the duty of every manager, managing director or other officer of the insurer including a service provider, contractor of an insurer where services are outsourced by the insurer, or intermediary or insurance intermediary, as the case may be, to produce before the Investigating Officer directed to make the investigation under sub-section (1), or inspection under sub-section (2), all such books of account, registers, other documents and the database in his custody or power and to furnish him with any statement and information relating to the affairs of the insurer or intermediary or insurance intermediary, as the case may be, as the Investigating Officer may require of him within such time as the said Investigating Officer may specify.

(4) Any Investigating Officer, directed to make an investigation under subsection (1), or inspection under sub-section (2), may examine on oath, any manager, managing director or other officer of the insurer including a service provider or contractor where the services are outsourced by the insurer or intermediary or insurance intermediary, as the case may be, in relation to his business.

(5) The Investigating Officer shall, if he has been directed by the Authority to cause an inspection to be made, make a report to the Authority on such inspection.

(6) On receipt of any report under sub-section (1) or sub-section (5), the Authority may, after giving such opportunity to the insurer or intermediary or insurance intermediary, as the case may be, to make a representation in connection with the report as, in the opinion of the Authority, seems reasonable, by order in writing, --

(a) require the insurer, to take such action in respect of any matter arising out of the report as the Authority may think fit; or

(b) cancel the registration of the insurer or intermediary or insurance intermediary, as the case may be; or

(c) direct any person to apply to the court for the winding up of the insurer or intermediary or insurance intermediary, as the case may be, if it is a company, whether the registration of the insurer or intermediary or insurance intermediary, as the case may be, has been cancelled under clause (b) or not.

(7) The Authority may by the regulations made by it specify the minimum information to be maintained by insurers or intermediary or insurance intermediary, as the case may be, in their books, the manner in which such information shall be maintained, the checks and other verifications to be adopted by insurers or intermediary or insurance intermediary, as the case may be, in that connection and all other matters incidental thereto as are, in its opinion, necessary to enable the Investigating Officer to discharge satisfactorily his functions under this section.

Explanation.-- For the purposes of this section, the expression "insurer" shall include in the case of an insurer incorporated in India--

(a) all its subsidiaries formed for the purpose of carrying on the business of insurance exclusively outside India; and

(b) all its branches whether situated in India or outside India.

(8) Any insurer or intermediary or insurance intermediary aggrieved by any order made under this section may prefer an appeal to the Securities Appellate Tribunal.

(9) All expenses of, and incidental to, any investigation made under this section shall be defrayed by the insurer or intermediary or insurance intermediary, as the case may be, shall have priority over the debts due from the insurer and shall be recoverable as an arrear of land revenue.]]