Section 16. Information to competent authority.

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, the competent authority shall have power to require any officer or authority of the Central Government or a State Government or a local authority to furnish information in relation to such persons, points or matters as in the opinion of the competent authority will be useful for, or relevant to, the purposes of this Act. (2) Any officer of the Income-tax Department, the Customs Department or the Central Excise Department or any officer of enforcement appointed under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (46 of 1973), may furnish sou motu any information available with him to the competent authority if in the opinion of the officer such information will be useful to the competent authority for the purposes of this Act.