Letter of request to a contracting State in certain cases.

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 if, in the course of a preliminary inquiry or investigation into an offence or other proceeding under this Act, an application is made to a Special Court by an officer of the Lokayukta authorised in this behalf that any evidence is required in connection with the preliminary inquiry or investigation into an offence or proceeding under this Act and he is of the opinion that such evidence may be available in any place in a contracting State, and the Special Court, on being satisfied that such evidence is required in connection with the preliminary inquiry or investigation into an offence or proceeding under this Act, may issue a letter of request to a court or an authority in the contracting State competent to deal with such request to— (i) examine the facts and circumstances of the case; (ii) take such steps as the Special Court may specify in such letter of request; and (iii) forward all the evidence so taken or collected to the Special Court issuing such letter of request. (2) The letter of request shall be transmitted in such manner as may be prescribed. (3) The evidence collected in pursuance of the letter of the request under sub-section (1) by the Special Court shall be made available to the concerned authorised officer. (4) Every statement recorded or document or thing received under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be evidence collected during the course of the preliminary inquiry or investigation.