CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973
BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA, 2023
156. Police officer’s power to investigate cognizable case
175. Police officer’s power to investigate cognizable case
changed or removed in old law
changed or added in new law
Similar wording stays plain; only differences are highlighted.
CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973
156. Police officer’s power to investigate cognizable case.—(1) Any officer in charge of a police station may,
without the order of a Magistrate, investigate any cognizable case which a Court having jurisdiction over the local area
within the limits of such station would have power to inquire into or try under the provisions of Chapter XIII.
(2) No proceeding of a police officer in any such case shall at any stage be called in question on the ground
that the case was one which such officer was not empowered under this section to investigate.
(3) Any Magistrate empowered under section 190 may order such an investigation as above-mentioned.
STATE AMENDMENT
Maharashtra
Amendment of section 156.—In section 156 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, (2 of 1974) in its
application to the State of Maharashtra (Hereinafter referred to as “the said Code”), after sub-section (3), the
following provisos shall be added, namely:—
“Provided that, no Magistrate shall order an investigation under this section against a person who is or was a public
servant as defined under any other law for the time being in force, in respect of the act done by such public servant while
acting or purporting to act in the discharge of his official duties, except with the previous sanction under section 197 of the
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) or under any law for the time being in force:
Provided further that, the sanctioning authority shall take a decision within a period of ninety days from the
date of the receipt of the proposal for sanction and in case the sanctioning authority fails to take the decision within
the said stipulated period of ninety days, the sanction shall be deemed to have been accorded by the sanctioning
authority.”.
[Vide Maharashtra Act 33 of 2016, s. 2.]
Legacy / repealed by BNSS India Code — CrPC 1973
BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA, 2023
175. Police officer’s power to investigate cognizable case.—(1) Any officer in charge of a police
station may, without the order of a Magistrate, investigate any cognizable case which a Court having
jurisdiction over the local area within the limits of such station would have power to inquire into or try
under the provisions of Chapter XIV:
Provided that considering the nature and gravity of the offence, the Superintendent of Police may
require the Deputy Superintendent of Police to investigate the case.
(2) No proceeding of a police officer in any such case shall at any stage be called in question on the
ground that the case was one which such officer was not empowered under this section to investigate.
(3) Any Magistrate empowered under section 210 may, after considering the application supported by
an affidavit made under sub-section (4) of section 173, and after making such inquiry as he thinks necessary
and submission made in this regard by the police officer, order such an investigation as above-mentioned.
(4) Any Magistrate empowered under section 210, may, upon receiving a complaint against a public
servant arising in course of the discharge of his official duties, order investigation, subject to—
(a) receiving a report containing facts and circumstances of the incident from the officer superior
to him; and
(b) after consideration of the assertions made by the public servant as to the situation that led to the
incident so alleged.
Current law India Code — BNSS 2023