Interrogatories by Secretary of the State

(a) The Secretary of the State may propound to any corporation subject to the provisions of sections 33-600 to 33-998, inclusive, domestic or foreign, and to any officer or director thereof, such interrogatories as may be reasonably necessary and proper to enable him to ascertain whether such corporation has complied with the provisions of said sections applicable to such corporation. Such interrogatories shall be answered within thirty days after the mailing thereof, or within such additional time as shall be fixed by the Secretary of the State, and the answers thereto shall be full and complete and shall be made in writing and under oath. If such interrogatories are directed to an individual they shall be answered by him, and, if directed to a corporation, they shall be answered by the president, vice president, secretary or assistant secretary thereof. (b) Each corporation, domestic or foreign, and each officer and director of a corporation, domestic or foreign, failing or refusing within the time prescribed by this section to answer truthfully and fully interrogatories duly propounded to it or him by the Secretary of the State as provided in subsection (a) of this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars. (c) Interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of the State and the answers thereto shall not be opened to public inspection nor shall the Secretary of the State disclose any facts or information obtained therefrom except insofar as his official duty may require the same to be made public or if such interrogatories or the answers thereto are required for evidence in any criminal proceedings or in any other action by this state.