Can Police Arrest Without Warrant in India? Law, Supreme Court Guidelines, and What Citizens Must Know
Police in India can arrest a person without a warrant in certain legally permitted situations, particularly in connection with cognizable offences, but the power is not unlimited. Under the BNSS, officers must satisfy applicable conditions for arrest and, in many cases, consider whether arrest is actually necessary. An arrested person has important safeguards, including the right to know the grounds of arrest, inform a relative or friend, consult a lawyer, and be produced before a Magistrate within 24 hours, excluding permitted travel time.