CrPC Section 151: Arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offences
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Chapter 11: Preventive action of the police
Repealed on 1 July 2024 and replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS).
¶ 151. Arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offences . - (1) A police officer knowing of a design to commit any cognizable offence may arrest, without orders from a Magistrate and without a warrant, the person so designing, if it appears to such officer that the commission of the offence cannot be otherwise prevented.
¶
(2) No person arrested under sub-section ( 1 ) shall be detained in custody for a period exceeding twenty-four hours from the time of hi s arrest unless hi s further detention is required or authorised under any other provisions of this Code or of any other law for the time being in force.
¶
STATE AMENDMENT
¶Maharashtra:
In section 151 ,-
¶(a) in sub-section ( 2 ), after the words "required or authorised" the words, "under sub¬ section ( 3 ) or" shall be inserted;
¶(b) after sub-section ( 2 ), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:-
¶"( 3 ) (a) Where a person is arrested under this section and the officer making the arrest, or the officer in charge of the police station before whom the arrested person is produced, has reasonable grounds to believe that the detention of the arrested person for a period longer than twenty-four hours from the time of arrest (excluding the time required to take the arrested person from the place of arrest to the Court of a Judicial Magistrate) is necessary by reason that-
¶(i) The person is likely to continue the design to commit, or is likely to commit, the cognizable offence referred to in sub-section ( 1 ) after hi s release; and
¶(ii) the circumstances of the case are such that his being at large is likely to be prejudicial to the maintenance of public order,.
¶the officer making the arrest, or the officer in charge of the police station, shall produce such arrested person before the nearest Judicial Magistrate, together with a report in writing stating the reasons for the continued detention of such person for a period longer than twenty-four hours.
¶(b) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Code or any other law for the time being in force, where the Magistrate before whom such arrested person is produced is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for the temporary detention of such person in custody beyond the period of twenty-four hours, he may, from time to time, by order remand such person to such custody as he may think fit:
¶Provided that, no person shall be detained under t his section for a period exceeding fifteen days at a time, and for a total period exceeding thirty days from the date of arrest of such person.
¶(c) When any person is remanded to custody under clause (b), the Magistrate shall, as soon as may be communicated to such person the grounds on which the order has been made and such person may make a representation against the order to the Court of Session. The Sessions Judge may, on receipt of such representation after holding such inquiry as he deems fit, either reject the representation, or if he considers that further detention of the arrested person is not necessary, or that it is otherwise proper and just so to do, may vacate the order and the arrested person shall then be released forthwith."
¶[Vide Maharashtra Act 7 of 1981 w.e.f . 27.5.1980]
Study: explanations and related material
Now BNSS 170 (corresponding section). CrPC → BNSS converterSource: BPR&D BNSS–CrPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-07-03), p9
Official reference: Ministry of Home Affairs: historical CrPC reference — source link checked: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2024-06-30.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. Section 135 was restored and individually checked against the linked government PDF (pages 75–76) on 2026-10-02; this is not a verification of the whole collection. Schedules and forms are not consolidated here. Historical code retained for reference; read the repeal/savings provisions in the successor code.
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.