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TypeBare Act JurisdictionCentral Government

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 Section 41

When Police May Arrest Without Warrant

~3 min read
https://sooperkanoon.com/act/6933

Bare act section · Research

About this section

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 Section 41 is part of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - When Police May Arrest Without Warrant. Read the section text below and explore Indian court judgments that cite it.

Research copy - verify against official government publications before filing or court use.

Section Text

(1) Any police officer may without an order from a Magistrate and without a warrant, arrest any person

1[(a) who commits, in the presence of a police officer, a cognizable offence;

(b) against whom a reasonable complaint has been made, or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed a cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may be less than seven years or which may extend to seven years whether with or without fine, if the following conditions are satisfied, namely:--

(i) the police officer has reason to believe on the basis of such complaint, information, or suspicion that such person has committed the said offence;

(ii) the police officer is satisfied that such arrest is necessary--

(a) to prevent such person from committing any further offence; or

(b) for proper investigation of the offence; or

(c) to prevent such person from causing the evidence of the offence to disappear or tampering with such evidence in any manner; or

(d) to prevent such person from making any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to the police officer; or

(e) as unless such person is arrested, his presence in the Court whenever required cannot be ensured,

and the police officer shall record while making such arrest, his reasons in writing.

(ba) against whom credible information has been received that he has committed a cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to more than seven years whether with or without fine or with death sentence and the police officer has reason to believe on the basis of that information that such person has committed the said offence]

(c) who has been proclaimed as an offender either under this Code or by order of the State Government; or

(d) in whose possession anything is found which may reasonably be suspected to be stolen property and who may reasonably be suspected of having committed an offence with reference to such thing; or

(e) who obstructs a police officer while in the execution of his duty, or who has escaped, or attempts to escape, from lawful custody; or

(f) who is reasonable suspected of being a deserter from any of the Armed Forces of the Union; or

(g) who has been concerned in, or against whom a reasonable complaint has been made, or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists, of his having been concerned in, any act committed at any place out of India which, if committed in India, would have been punishable as an offence, and for which he is, under any law relating to extradition, or otherwise, liable to be apprehended or detained in custody in India; or

(h) who, being a released convict, commits a breach of any rule made under sub­section (5) of section 356; or

(i) for whose arrest any requisition, whether written or oral, has been received from another police officer, provided that the requisition specifies the person to be arrested and the offence or other cause for which the arrest is to be made and it appears therefrom that the person might lawfully be arrested without a warrant by the officer who issued the requisition.

2[(2) Subject to the provisions of section 42, no person concerned in a non-cognizable offence or against whom a complaint has been made or credible information has been received or reasonable suspicion exists of his having so concerned, shall be arrested except under a warrant or order of a Magistrate.]

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1. Substituted vide Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2008 previous text was:-

"(a) who has been concerned in any cognizable offence, or against whom a reasonable complaint has been made, or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists, of his having been so concerned; or

(b) who has in his possession without lawful excuse, the burden of proving which excuse shall lie on such person, any implement of house-breaking; or"

2. Substituted vide Code Of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2008 previous text was:-

"(2) Any officer in charge of a police station may, in like manner, arrest or cause to be arrested any person, belonging to one or more of the categories of person specified in section 109 or section 110."

Frequently asked questions

What does Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 Section 41 provide?

Section Section 41 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (When Police May Arrest Without Warrant) is reproduced on this page as part of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Lawyers and researchers use it to read the statutory wording before checking how courts have applied this section in reported judgments.

How do I find judgments on Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 Section 41?

Open “Find citing judgments” on this page to search Supreme Court, High Court, and tribunal decisions that reference Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 Section 41. Advanced act search can narrow results by court, year, or additional act filters.

Is the section text on SooperKanoon official?

SooperKanoon hosts bare act text for research and quick reference. For filings or compliance in Central, confirm the wording against the official state gazette or authorized publication.

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