Section 51. Search of arrested person

(1) Whenever a person is arrested by a police officer under a warrant which does not provide for the taking of bail, or under a warrant which provides for the taking of bail but the person arrested cannot furnish bail, and whenever a person is arrested without warrant, or by a private person under a warrant, and cannot legally be admitted to bail, or is unable to furnish bail, the officer making the arrest or, when the arrest is made by a private person, the police officer to whom he makes over the person arrested, may search such person, and place in safe custody all articles, other than necessary wearing-apparel, found upon him and where any article is seized from the arrested person, a receipt showing the articles taken in possession by the police officer shall be given to such person. (2) Whenever it is necessary to cause a female to be searched, the search shall be made by another female with strict regard to decency.

Source: IndiaCode Portal, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Text: IndiaCode Portal (Chandigarh copy). Open on India Code Check against the official text before relying on it.

Replaced by

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Section 49. Search of arrested person.

(1) Whenever,— (i) a person is arrested by a police officer under a warrant which does not provide for the taking of bail, or under a warrant which provides for the taking of bail but the person arrested cannot furnish bail; and (ii) a person is arrested without warrant, or by a private person under a warrant, and cannot legally be admitted to bail, or is unable to furnish bail, the officer making the arrest or, when the arrest is made by a private person, the police officer to whom he makes over the person arrested, may search such person, and place in safe custody all articles, other than necessary wearing-apparel, found upon him and where any article is seized from the arrested person, a receipt showing the articles taken in possession by the police officer shall be given to such person. (2) Whenever it is necessary to cause a female to be searched, the search shall be made by another female with strict regard to decency.

Pair from: BPR&D correspondence tables (bprd.mha.gov.in; A. K. Yadav, CAPT Bhopal)

Cases citing this section

Cited in 17 documents

Source: Order and office-report PDFs whose text cites the section, read by rule (document_citations); each case through its orders and office reports that carry the PDF

Loading the citing cases…