CrPC Section 41: When police may arrest without warrant
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Chapter 5: Arrest of Persons
Repealed on 1 July 2024 and replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS).
¶ 41. When police may arrest without warrant .- (1) Any police officer may without an order from a Magistrate and without a warrant, arrest any person
*[(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.
¶**[Provided that a police officer shall, in all cases where the arrest of a person is not Required under the provisions of this sub-section, record the reasons in writing for not making the arrest.]
¶
(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;"
¶*[sub-clauses (a) and (b) substituted by Code of Criminal Procedure Amendment act, 2008]
¶**[Proviso to sub-clause (b) inserted by Code of Criminal Procedure Amendment Act, 2010]
¶*[(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." }
¶*[sub-clause (2) substituted by Code of Criminal Procedure Amendment act, 2008]
Study: explanations and related material
Now BNSS 35 (combined with other sections). CrPC → BNSS converterSource: BPR&D BNSS–CrPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-07-03), p2
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
- 41A. Notice of appearance before police officer
- 41B. Procedure of arrest and duties of officer making arrest Procedure of arrest and duties of officer making arrest
- 41C. Control room at districts
- 41D. Right of arrested person to meet an advocate of his choice during interrogation
- 42. Arrest on refusal to give name and residence
- 43. Arrest by private person and procedure on such arrest
- 44. Arrest by Magistrate
- 45. Protection of members of the Armed Forces from arrest
- 46. Arrest how made
- 47. Search of place entered by person sought to be arrested
- 48. Pursuit of offenders into other jurisdictions
- 49. No unnecessary restraint
- 50. Person arrested to be informed of grounds of arrest and of right to bail
- 50A. Obligation of person making arrest to inform about the arrest to inform about the arrest, etc., to a nominated person
- 51. Search of arrested persons
- 52. Power to seize offensive weapons
- 53. Examination of accused by medical practitioner at the request of police officer
- 53A. Examination of person accused of rape by medical practitioner
- 54. Examination of arrested person by medical officer
- 54A. Identification of person arrested
- 55. Procedure when police officer deputes subordinate to arrest without warrant
- 55A. Health and safety of arrested person
- 56. Person arrested to be taken before Magistrate or officer in charge of police station
- 57. Person arrested not to be detained more than twenty-four hours
- 58. Police to report apprehensions
- 59. Discharge of person apprehended
- 60. Powers, on escape, to pursue and re-take
- 60A. Arrest to be made strictly according to the Code