CrPC Section 160: Police Officer's power to require attendance of witnesses
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Chapter 12: Information - the police and their powers - Investigate
Repealed on 1 July 2024 and replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS).
¶ 160. Police Officer's power to require attendance of witnesses.- (1) Any police officer making an investigation under this Chapter may, by order in writing, require the attendance before himself of any person being within the limits of his own or any adjoining station who, from the information given or otherwise, appears to be acquainted with the fads and circumstances of the case; and such person shall attend as so required:
¶
Provided that no male person under the age of fifteen years or woman shall be required to attend at any place other than the place in which such male person or woman resides.
¶(2) The State Government may, by rules made in this behalf, provide for the payment by the police officer of the reasonable expenses of every person, attending under sub-section (1) at any place other than his residence.
Study: explanations and related material
Now BNSS 179 (corresponding section). CrPC → BNSS converterSource: BPR&D BNSS–CrPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-07-03), p10
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.
Other sections in this chapter
- 154. Information in cognizable cases
- 155. Information as to non-cognizable cases and investigation of such cases
- 156. Police officer's power to investigate cognizable cases
- 157. Procedure for investigation
- 158. Report how submitted
- 159. Power to hold investigation or preliminary inquiry
- 161. Examination of witnesses by police
- 162. Statements to police not to be signed: Use of statements in evidence
- 163. No inducement to be offered
- 164. Recording of confessions and statements
- 164A. Medical examination of the victim of rape
- 165. Search by police officer
- 166. When officer in charge of police station may require another to issue search-warrant
- 166A. Letter of request to competent authority for investigation in a country or place outside India
- 166B. Letter of request from a country or place outside India to a Court or an authority for investigation in India
- 167. Procedure when investigation cannot be completed in twenty-four hours
- 168. Report of investigation by subordinate police officer
- 169. Release of accused when evidence deficient
- 170. Cases to be sent to Magistrate when evidence is sufficient
- 171. Complainant and witnesses not to be required to accompany police officer and not to be subject to restraint
- 172. Diary of proceeding in investigation
- 173. Report of police officer on completion of investigation
- 174. Police to inquire and report on suicide, etc
- 175. Power to summon persons
- 176. Inquiry by Magistrate into cause of death