BNSS Section 40: Arrest by private person and procedure on such arrest
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter 5: Arrest of Persons
Also available in: हिंदी
¶40.
(1) Any private person may arrest or cause to be arrested any person who in his presence commits a non-bailable and cognizable offence, or any proclaimed offender, and, without unnecessary delay, but within six hours from such arrest, shall make over or cause to be made over any person so arrested to a police officer, or, in the absence of a police officer, take such person or cause him to be taken in custody to the nearest police station.
¶(2) If there is reason to believe that such person comes under the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 35, a police officer shall take him in custody.
¶(3) If there is reason to believe that he has committed a non-cognizable offence, and he refuses on the demand of a police officer to give his name and residence, or gives a name or residence which such officer has reason to believe to be false, he shall be dealt with under the provisions of section 39; but if there is no sufficient reason to believe that he has committed any offence, he shall be at once released.
Study: explanations and related material
Replaces CrPC 43. CrPC → BNSS converterSource: BPR&D BNSS–CrPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-07-03)
This section relies on the classification of offences (cognizable, bailable, triable by) in the BNSS First Schedule. Open the First Schedule
Official reference: Ministry of Home Affairs: Gazette text, 25 December 2023 — source link checked: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2024-07-01.Mobile-app reference import; the recorded snapshot date is not a fresh legal-currency guarantee. The linked government text is an independent authoritative reference, not certification that this website reproduces the same edition. The source link was checked, not every provision or subsequent amendment. Check commencement notifications, savings and jurisdiction-specific variations separately.
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 35. When police may arrest without warrant
- 36. Procedure of arrest and duties of officer making arrest
- 37. Designated police officer
- 38. Right of arrested person to meet an advocate of his choice during interrogation
- 39. Arrest on refusal to give name and residence
- 41. Arrest by Magistrate
- 42. Protection of members of Armed Forces from arrest
- 43. Arrest how made
- 44. Search of place entered by person sought to be arrested
- 45. Pursuit of offenders into other jurisdictions
- 46. No unnecessary restraint
- 47. Person arrested to be informed of grounds of arrest and of right to bail
- 48. Obligation of person making arrest to inform about arrest, etc., to relative or friend
- 49. Search of arrested person
- 50. Power to seize offensive weapons
- 51. Examination of accused by medical practitioner at request of police officer
- 52. Examination of person accused of rape by medical practitioner
- 53. Examination of arrested person by medical officer
- 54. Identification of person arrested
- 55. Procedure when police officer deputes subordinate to arrest without warrant
- 56. Health and safety of arrested person
- 57. Person arrested to be taken before Magistrate or officer in charge of police station
- 58. Person arrested not to be detained more than twenty-four hours
- 59. Police to report apprehensions
- 60. Discharge of person apprehended
- 61. Power, on escape, to pursue and retake
- 62. Arrest to be made strictly according to Sanhita