If you're looking for a verb that describes the act of questioning, you could use:
* Inquired: This means to ask a question.
* Investigated: This means to examine something carefully.
* Interrogated: This means to question someone formally, often in a hostile way.
For example, you could say:
* "The inquisition was a period of intense investigation and persecution."
* "The detective inquired about the suspect's alibi."
* "The police interrogated the witness for several hours."