CrPC 166A→BNSS 112

CrPC 166A to BNSS 112: Letter of request to competent authority for investigation in a country or place outside India

Section 166A CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 112 BNSS (2023)

View CrPC Section 166A →View BNSS Section 112 →

CrPC 166A to BNSS 112 at a Glance

Section 166A CrPC (Letter of request to competent authority for investigation in a country or place outside India) is now Section 112 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From CrPC 166A to BNSS 112?

Section 166A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is found in Section 112 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024, under the same heading. Section 112(1) BNSS has no counterpart to the opening words of Section 166A(1) CrPC, which read notwithstanding anything contained in this Code. Section 112(3) BNSS says under this Sanhita where Section 166A(3) CrPC said under this Chapter. The rest of the text is the same.

CrPC 166A vs BNSS 112: Comparison Table

AspectCrPC 1973 (repealed)BNSS 2023 (in force)
Section166A112
HeadingLetter of request to competent authority for investigation in a country or place outside IndiaSame
Sub-sections3 sub-sectionsSame

CrPC 166A and BNSS 112: Bare Act Text Side by Side

CrPC 1973 (repealed)

Section 166A, CrPC 1973

166A. Letter of request to competent authority for investigation in a country or place outside India.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Code, if, in the course of an investigation into an offence, an application is made by the investigating officer or any officer superior in rank to the investigating officer that evidence may be available in a country or place outside India, any Criminal Court may issue a letter of request to a Court or an authority in that country or place competent to deal with such request to examine orally any person supposed to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case and to record his statement made in the course of such examination and also to require such person or any other person to produce any document or thing which may be in his possession pertaining to the case and to forward all the evidence so taken or collected or the authenticated copies thereof or the thing so collected to the Court issuing such letter. (2) The letter of request shall be transmitted in such manner as the Central Government may specify in this behalf. (3) Every statement recorded or document or thing received under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be the evidence collected during the course of investigation under this Chapter.
BNSS 2023 (in force)

Section 112, BNSS 2023

112. Letter of request to competent authority for investigation in a country or place outside India.—(1) If, in the course of an investigation into an offence, an application is made by the investigating officer or any officer superior in rank to the investigating officer that evidence may be available in a country or place outside India, any Criminal Court may issue a letter of request to a Court or an authority in that country or place competent to deal with such request to examine orally any person supposed to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case and to record his statement made in the course of such examination and also to require such person or any other person to produce any document or thing which may be in his possession pertaining to the case and to forward all the evidence so taken or collected or the authenticated copies thereof or the thing so collected to the Court issuing such letter. (2) The letter of request shall be transmitted in such manner as the Central Government may specify in this behalf. (3) Every statement recorded or document or thing received under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be the evidence collected during the course of investigation under this Sanhita.

When It Applies: CrPC 166A vs BNSS 112

Under CrPC 166A
  1. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Code, Section 166A(1) CrPC applies where, in the course of an investigation into an offence, an application is made by the investigating officer or any officer superior in rank to the investigating officer that evidence may be available in a country or place outside India; any Criminal Court may issue a letter of request to a Court or an authority in that country or place competent to deal with such request.
  2. Section 166A(1) CrPC says the letter of request may be to examine orally any person supposed to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case and to record the statement made in the course of such examination, and also to require such person or any other person to produce any document or thing which may be in his possession pertaining to the case.
  3. Section 166A(1) CrPC says the letter of request may also be to forward all the evidence so taken or collected, or the authenticated copies of it, or the thing so collected, to the Court issuing such letter.
  4. Section 166A(2) CrPC says the letter of request shall be transmitted in such manner as the Central Government may specify in this behalf.
  5. Section 166A(3) CrPC says every statement recorded or document or thing received under Section 166A(1) CrPC shall be deemed to be the evidence collected during the course of investigation under Chapter XII of the Code.
Under BNSS 112
  1. Section 112(1) BNSS applies where, in the course of an investigation into an offence, an application is made by the investigating officer or any officer superior in rank to the investigating officer that evidence may be available in a country or place outside India; any Criminal Court may issue a letter of request to a Court or an authority in that country or place competent to deal with such request.
  2. Section 112(1) BNSS says the letter of request may be to examine orally any person supposed to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case and to record the statement made in the course of such examination, and also to require such person or any other person to produce any document or thing which may be in his possession pertaining to the case.
  3. Section 112(1) BNSS says the letter of request may also be to forward all the evidence so taken or collected, or the authenticated copies of it, or the thing so collected, to the Court issuing such letter.
  4. Section 112(2) BNSS says the letter of request shall be transmitted in such manner as the Central Government may specify in this behalf.
  5. Section 112(3) BNSS says every statement recorded or document or thing received under Section 112(1) BNSS shall be deemed to be the evidence collected during the course of investigation under this Sanhita.

What CrPC 166A to BNSS 112 Means in Practice

Section 112(2) BNSS reads as Section 166A(2) CrPC reads. Only the opening words of Section 112(1) BNSS and the closing words of Section 112(3) BNSS differ from Section 166A(1) CrPC and Section 166A(3) CrPC.

FAQs: CrPC 166A to BNSS 112

Which BNSS section is Section 166A CrPC from 1 July 2024?▼

Section 112 BNSS, under the same heading. Section 166A(1) CrPC is found in Section 112(1) BNSS, Section 166A(2) CrPC is found in Section 112(2) BNSS and Section 166A(3) CrPC is found in Section 112(3) BNSS.

Does Section 112(1) BNSS open with the same words as Section 166A(1) CrPC?▼

No. Section 112(1) BNSS has no counterpart to the opening words of Section 166A(1) CrPC, which read notwithstanding anything contained in this Code.

Disclaimer: This comparison is for informational purposes only. The new criminal laws came into effect on 1 July 2024. Consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 26 Oct 2026 ·