Powers to order production of accounts and powers of entry inspection etc

Powers to order production of accounts and powers of entry inspection etc. 20.

1. (1) The assessing authority may, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, require any proprietor to produce before it the working records, accounts, registers or other documents or to furnish any information relating to the luxury provided in the hotel as may be necessary for the purposes of this Act.
2. (2) All working records, accounts, registers or other documents relating to the luxury provided in hotel shall at all reasonable times, be open to inspection by the assessing authority and the assessing authority may take or cause to be taken such copies or extracts of such records as may be necessary for the purpose of satisfying itself regarding the accuracy of the charges for such luxury or for informing itself as to the particulars regarding which information is required for the purpose of this Act or any rules made thereunder as would appear to it necessary.
3. (3) If the assessing authority has reason to believe that any proprietor has evaded or is attempting to evade the payment of tax due from him, it may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, seize such records, accounts, registers, or other documents of the proprietor as may be necessary and shall grant a receipt for the same and shall retain the same so long only as may be necessary in connection with any proceeding under this Act or for a prosecution.
4. (4) For the purpose of this Act, the Commissioner or any other person authorised by him in this behalf may enter and search any hotel or any place of business of the proprietor or any other place where such authority has reason to believe that the proprietor keeps or is for the time being keeping any records, accounts, registers or other documents of his business in relation to the hotel.