law: The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002
  21. Retention of
  
  records.-
  1.  Where
  
  any records have been seized, under section 17, or section 18, and the
  
  Investigating Officer or any other officer authorised by the Director in this
  
  behalf has reason to believe that any of such records are required to be
  
  retained for any inquiry under this Act, he may retain such records for a
  
  period not exceeding three months from the end of the month in which such
  
  records were seized.
  2.  The
  
  person, from whom records were seized, shall be entitled to obtain copies of
  
  records retained under sub-section (1).
  3.  On
  
  the expiry of the period specified under sub-section (1), the records shall be
  
  returned to the person from whom such records were seized unless the
  
  Adjudicating Authority permits retention of such records beyond the said
  
  period.
  4.  The
  
  Adjudicating Authority, before authorising the retention of such records beyond
  
  the period mentioned in sub-section (1), shall satisfy himself that the records
  
  are required for the purposes of adjudication under section 8.
  5.  After
  
  passing of an order of confiscation under sub-section (6) of section 8, the
  
  Adjudicating Authority shall direct the release of the records to the person
  
  from whom such records were seized.
  6.  
  
    Notwithstanding
  
  anything contained in sub-section (5), the Director or any officer authorised
  
  by him in this behalf may withhold the release of any records until filing of
  
  appeal under section 26 or after forty-five days from the date of order under
  
  sub-section (5), whichever is earlier, if he is of the opinion that such
  
  records are relevant for the proceedings before the Appellate Tribunal.