Regulation 21 - Safe custody of seized documents - Securities And Exchange Board of India (Procedure For Search And Seizure) Regulations, 2014

CHAPTER V SAFE CUSTODY AND RETURN OF DOCUMENTS Safe custody of seized documents. 21. (1) The documents seized shall be transmited in safe manner to the place of custody. (2) The authorised officer who is not the Investigating Authority, shall hand over the documents seized along with the seizure memo to the Investigating Authority. (3) The Investigating Authority shall keep in his custody the books, registers, other documents and records seized under these regulations for such period not later than the conclusion of the investigation as he considers necessary. Provided that such books, registers, other documents and records shall not be retained by the Investigating Authority for a period exceeding one hundred and eighty days from the date of seizure, except with the approval of the Chairman. (4) The authorised officer or the Investigating Authority, as the case may be, shall ensure that records in physical form are not altered, damaged, mutilated, and the records in electronic form is not altered or erased. (5) The authorised officer or the Investigating Authority, as the case may be, shall ensure that the physical documents and electronic storage devices on which electronic records are stored, are maintained and stored in suitable physical and environmental conditions.