(1)Where a company is being wound up by the court, the official receiver or, in Scotland, the liquidator may at any time before the dissolution of the company apply to the court for the public examination of any person who—
(a)is or has been an officer of the company ; or
(b)has acted as liquidator or administrator of the company or as receiver or manager or, in Scotland, receiver of its property; or
(c)not being a person falling within paragraph (a) or (b) above, is or has been concerned, or has taken part, in the promotion, formation or management of the company.
(2)Unless the court otherwise orders, the official receiver or, in Scotland, the liquidator shall make an application under subsection (1) above if he is requested in accordance with the rules to do so by—
(a)one-half, in value, of the company's creditors ; or
(b)three-quarters, in value, of the company's contributories.
(3)On an application under subsection (1) above, the court shall direct that a public examination of the person to whom the application relates shall be held on a day appointed by the court; and that person shall attend on that day and be publicly examined as to the promotion, formation or management of the company or as to the conduct of its business and affairs or his conduct or dealings in relation to the company.
(4)The following may take part in the public examination of a person under this section and may question that person concerning the matters mentioned in subsection (3) above, namely—
(a)the official receiver ;
(b)the liquidator of the company ;
(c)any person who has been appointed as special manager of the company's property or business ;
(d)any creditor of the company who has tendered a proof or, in Scotland, submitted a claim in the winding up;
(e)any contributory of the company.
(5)If a person without reasonable excuse fails at any time to attend his public examination under this section, he shall be guilty of contempt of court and liable to be punished accordingly.
(6)In a case where a person without reasonable excuse fails at any time to attend his examination under this section or there are reasonable grounds for believing that a person has absconded, or is about to abscond, with a view to avoiding or delaying his examination under this section, the court may cause a warrant to be issued to a constable or prescribed officer of the court—
(a)for the arrest of that person ; and
(b)for the seizure of any books, papers, records, money or goods in that person's possession ;
and may authorise a person arrested under such a warrant to be kept in custody, and anything seized under such a warrant to be held, in accordance with the rules, until such time as the court may order.