BNSS-led Criminal Process

Criminal Procedure

Follow a criminal case from first information to investigation, trial and review. Every guide identifies who may act, what must happen next, which safeguard applies and what remedy follows.

Core modules
8
Topics mapped
46
Detailed guides
25
Leading cases
54

Use one method for every procedure

Authority, trigger, safeguard and remedy

AuthorityProcessRemedy
Begin the guide

Core module

Criminal Procedure Foundations and Investigation

  1. 01BNSS: Object, Scope, Commencement and TransitionPurpose, territorial scope, commencement, repeal of CrPC and treatment of pending proceedings.Read guide
  2. 02Basic Concepts and Definitions under BNSSBail, bond, cognizable and non-cognizable offences, complaint, inquiry, investigation and trial.Read guide
  3. 03Functionaries under BNSSPolice, Judicial and Executive Magistrates, Sessions Courts, prosecutors, defence counsel and victims.Read guide
  4. 04Constitution and Hierarchy of Criminal CourtsSessions divisions, criminal courts, Judicial and Executive Magistrates, jurisdiction and subordination.Read guide
  5. 05Powers of Criminal Courts and Sentencing JurisdictionTrial allocation, sentencing limits, community service, consecutive sentences and conferment of powers.Read guide
  6. 06Superior Police Officers and Public AssistanceSuperior police powers and statutory duties to assist authorities and report serious offences.Read guide
  7. 07FIR under BNSS Section 173Zero FIR, electronic information, free copy, preliminary inquiry and remedies for refusal.Read guide
  8. 08Police Investigation under BNSSInvestigation powers, forensic visits, witness examination, searches, remand, case diary and final report.Read guide

Core module

Arrest, Bail and Compelling Appearance

  1. 01Arrest without Warrant under BNSSSection 35 thresholds, notice of appearance, recorded necessity and protection from automatic arrest.Read guide
  2. 02Procedure and Rights of an Arrested PersonArrest memo, grounds, family notice, counsel, medical care, restraint and judicial production.Read guide
  3. 03Bail, Bonds and Anticipatory BailBailable and non-bailable offences, undertrial release, bond conditions and pre-arrest bail.Read guide
  4. 04Summons and Service of SummonsPhysical and electronic summons, personal and substituted service, witnesses and proof.Read guide
  5. 05Warrants of ArrestForm, duration, bailable endorsement, execution, outside-jurisdiction process and proportionality.Read guide
  6. 06Proclamation and Attachment against AbscondersPrior warrant, thirty-day publication, proclaimed-offender status, attachment and restoration.Read guide
  7. 07Production of Documents and Search WarrantsDocument and device production, search-warrant grounds, scope and self-incrimination limits.Read guide
  8. 08Search, Seizure and Audio-Video RecordingSearch witnesses, seizure lists, occupant rights, reporting and Section 105 recording.Read guide
  9. 09Illegal Arrest and Search: Rights and RemediesRelease, habeas corpus, bail, compensation, property remedies and evidentiary scrutiny.Read guide

Core module

Proceedings before Magistrates

  1. 01Conditions for Taking CognizanceCognizance, sources, competent courts, sanction and specified-complainant requirements under BNSS Sections 210 to 222.Read guide
  2. 02Complaints to MagistratesExamination, hearing, jurisdiction, postponed process, inquiry and dismissal under BNSS Sections 223 to 226.Read guide
  3. 03Issue of Process and Commencement of ProceedingsProcess, appearance, document supply, Sessions commitment and parallel complaint-police cases under Sections 227 to 233.Read guide
  4. 04Accused Persons of Unsound MindFitness to defend, specialist assessment, release, treatment, resumption and acquittal under Sections 367 to 378.Read guide

Core module

Preventive Jurisdiction and Maintenance

  1. 01Security for Keeping Peace and Good BehaviourPost-conviction and preventive bonds, written grounds, inquiry, interim security, sureties and liberty safeguards under BNSS Sections 125 to 143.Read guide
  2. 02Dispersal of Unlawful AssembliesCommands to disperse, civil and armed force, minimum-force duties, peaceful-assembly rights and accountability under Sections 148 to 151.Read guide
  3. 03Public Nuisance, Urgent Orders and Land DisputesConditional nuisance orders, urgent preventive directions, actual possession, attachment and civil-court limits under Sections 152 to 167.Read guide
  4. 04Maintenance of Wives, Children and ParentsEligibility, neglect, interim and final maintenance, quantum, enforcement and alteration under BNSS Sections 144 to 147.Read guide

Core module

Charges and General Trial Procedure

  1. 01Form and Contents of a Criminal ChargeComing next
  2. 02Joinder of Charges and Accused PersonsComing next
  3. 03Evidence in Inquiries and TrialsComing next
  4. 04General Provisions Governing Criminal TrialsComing next
  5. 05Plea Bargaining under BNSSComing next
  6. 06Compounding of OffencesComing next

Core module

Trials, Judgment and Sentences

  1. 01Trial before a Court of SessionComing next
  2. 02Warrant Cases Instituted on a Police ReportComing next
  3. 03Warrant Cases Instituted on a ComplaintComing next
  4. 04Summons Cases before MagistratesComing next
  5. 05Summary TrialsComing next
  6. 06Criminal Judgments and Sentencing HearingComing next
  7. 07Execution, Suspension, Remission and CommutationComing next

Core module

Appeals, Reference and Revision

  1. 01Criminal Appeals under BNSSComing next
  2. 02Reference and RevisionComing next
  3. 03Confirmation of Death SentencesComing next
  4. 04Appellate Suspension and BailComing next

Core module

Special Powers and Procedural Validity

  1. 01Inherent Powers of the High CourtComing next
  2. 02Transfer of Criminal CasesComing next
  3. 03Irregular Proceedings and Failure of JusticeComing next
  4. 04Limitation for Taking CognizanceComing next

Case law index

Leading authorities in this guide

Cases explain the exact procedural safeguard and remain subject to changed BNSS wording.

  1. Rattiram v. State of Madhya Pradesh (2012) 4 SCC 516
  2. Hitendra Vishnu Thakur v. State of Maharashtra (1994) 4 SCC 602
  3. H.N. Rishbud v. State of Delhi AIR 1955 SC 196
  4. Devarapalli Lakshminarayana Reddy v. V. Narayana Reddy (1976) 3 SCC 252
  5. Shiv Kumar v. Hukam Chand (1999) 7 SCC 467
  6. Zahira Habibulla H. Sheikh v. State of Gujarat (2004) 4 SCC 158
  7. A.R. Antulay v. R.S. Nayak (1988) 2 SCC 602
  8. Chandra Mohan v. State of Uttar Pradesh AIR 1966 SC 1987
  9. Moly v. State of Kerala (2004) 4 SCC 584
  10. O.M. Cherian v. State of Kerala (2015) 2 SCC 501
  11. State of Bihar v. J.A.C. Saldanha (1980) 1 SCC 554
  12. Prakash Singh v. Union of India (2006) 8 SCC 1
  13. Lalita Kumari v. Government of Uttar Pradesh (2014) 2 SCC 1
  14. Mohammad Afzal Mohammad Sharif v. State of Maharashtra 2025 INSC 1100
  15. Pooja Pal v. Union of India (2016) 3 SCC 135
  16. Satender Kumar Antil v. Central Bureau of Investigation 2026 INSC 115
  17. Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar (2014) 8 SCC 273
  18. Vihaan Kumar v. State of Haryana 2025 INSC 162
  19. D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997) 1 SCC 416
  20. Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia v. State of Punjab (1980) 2 SCC 565
  21. Sushila Aggarwal v. State (NCT of Delhi) (2020) 5 SCC 1
  22. Satender Kumar Antil v. Central Bureau of Investigation 2025 INSC 909
  23. Pepsi Foods Ltd. v. Special Judicial Magistrate (1998) 5 SCC 749
  24. Inder Mohan Goswami v. State of Uttaranchal (2007) 12 SCC 1
  25. Raghuvansh Dewanchand Bhasin v. State of Maharashtra (2012) 9 SCC 791
  26. State through CBI v. Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar (2000) 10 SCC 438
  27. Vimalben Ajitbhai Patel v. Vatslaben Ashokbhai Patel (2008) 4 SCC 649
  28. State of Gujarat v. Shyamlal Mohanlal Choksi AIR 1965 SC 1251
  29. V.S. Kuttan Pillai v. Ramakrishnan (1980) 1 SCC 264
  30. Radha Kishan v. State of Uttar Pradesh AIR 1963 SC 822
  31. Pooran Mal v. Director of Inspection (1974) 1 SCC 345
  32. Nilabati Behera v. State of Orissa (1993) 2 SCC 746
  33. R.R. Chari v. State of Uttar Pradesh AIR 1951 SC 207
  34. State of Gujarat v. Afroz Mohammed Hasanfatta (2019) 20 SCC 539
  35. Chandra Deo Singh v. Prokash Chandra Bose AIR 1963 SC 1430
  36. National Bank of Oman v. Barakara Abdul Aziz (2013) 2 SCC 488
  37. Krishna Lal Chawla v. State of Uttar Pradesh (2021) 5 SCC 435
  38. Sunil Bharti Mittal v. Central Bureau of Investigation (2015) 4 SCC 609
  39. Lalankumar Singh v. State of Maharashtra 2022 SCC OnLine SC 1383
  40. Dahyabhai Chhaganbhai Thakkar v. State of Gujarat AIR 1964 SC 1563
  41. Shrikant Anandrao Bhosale v. State of Maharashtra (2002) 7 SCC 748
  42. Prem Singh v. State of NCT of Delhi 2023 INSC 1
  43. Madhu Limaye v. Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Monghyr (1970) 3 SCC 746
  44. Gopalanachari v. State of Kerala 1980 Supp SCC 649
  45. Istkar v. State of Uttar Pradesh 2022 SCC OnLine SC 1739
  46. In Re: Ramlila Maidan Incident (2012) 5 SCC 1
  47. Anita Thakur v. Government of Jammu and Kashmir (2016) 15 SCC 525
  48. Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan v. Union of India (2018) 17 SCC 324
  49. Municipal Council, Ratlam v. Vardhichand (1980) 4 SCC 162
  50. Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India (2020) 3 SCC 637
  51. Ashok Kumar v. State of Uttarakhand (2013) 3 SCC 366
  52. Chaturbhuj v. Sita Bai (2008) 2 SCC 316
  53. Rajnesh v. Neha (2021) 2 SCC 324
  54. Mohd. Abdul Samad v. State of Telangana 2024 INSC 506
Current-law approach

BNSS leads every guide. CrPC authorities are retained only where the corresponding rule remains useful, and completed pages alone enter search and the sitemap.