CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973
BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA, 2023
161. Examination of witnesses by police
180. Examination of witnesses by police
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
161. Examination of witnesses by police.—(1) Any police officer making an investigation under this Chapter,
or any police officer not below such rank as the State Government may, by general or special order, prescribe in this
behalf, acting on the requisition of such officer, may examine orally any person supposed to be acquainted with the
facts and circumstances of the case.
(2) Such person shall be bound to answer truly all questions relating to such case put to him by such officer,
other than questions the answers to which would have a tendency to expose him to a criminal charge or to a penalty
1. Ins. by Act 5 of 2009, s.11 (w.e.f. 31-12-2009).
2. Subs. by Act 13 of 2013, s. 14, for “under the age of fifteen years or woman” (w.e.f. 3-2-2013).
or forfeiture.
(3) The police officer may reduce into writing any statement made to him in the course of an examination under
this section; and if he does so, he shall make a separate and true record of the statement of each such person whose
statement he records.
[Provided that statement made under this sub-section may also be recorded by audio-video electronic means:]
[Provided further that the statement of a woman against whom an offence under section 354, section 354A,
section 354B, section 354C, section 354D, section 376, 3[section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C,
section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB], section 376E or section 509 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) is
alleged to have been committed or attempted shall be recorded, by a woman police officer or any woman officer.]
STATE AMENDMENT
Chhattisgarh
The second proviso to sub-section (3) of section 161 of the Code, shall be substituted with the following proviso,
namely: —
Provided further that statement of the woman against whom an offence under section 354, section 354A, section
354B, section 354C, section 354D, section 354E, section 376, section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, section
376D, section 376E, section 509, section 509A or section 509B of the Indian Penal Code, is alleged to have been
committed or attempted, shall be recorded, as far as possible, by woman police officer and shall also be recorded by
audio-video means, as far as possible, and it shall be the duty of such police officer to take all such steps as are
necessary to protect the identity of the woman.
[Vide Chhattisgarh Act 25 of 2015, s. 8]
Legacy / repealed by BNSS India Code — CrPC 1973
BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA, 2023
180. Examination of witnesses by police.—(1) Any police officer making an investigation under this
Chapter, or any police officer not below such rank as the State Government may, by general or special
order, prescribe in this behalf, acting on the requisition of such officer, may examine orally any person
supposed to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case.
(2) Such person shall be bound to answer truly all questions relating to such case put to him by such
officer, other than questions the answers to which would have a tendency to expose him to a criminal charge
or to a penalty or forfeiture.
(3) The police officer may reduce into writing any statement made to him in the course of an
examination under this section; and if he does so, he shall make a separate and true record of the statement
of each such person whose statement he records:
Provided that statement made under this sub-section may also be recorded by audio-video electronic
means:
Provided further that the statement of a woman against whom an offence under section 64, section 65,
section 66, section 67, section 68, section 69, section 70, section 71, section 74, section 75, section 76,
section 77, section 78, section 79 or section 124 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 is alleged to have
been committed or attempted, shall be recorded, by a woman police officer or any woman officer.
Current law India Code — BNSS 2023