CrPC 166B→BNSS 113

CrPC 166B to BNSS 113: Letter of request from a country or place outside India to a Court or an authority for investigation in India

Section 166B CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 113 BNSS (2023)

View CrPC Section 166B →View BNSS Section 113 →

CrPC 166B to BNSS 113 at a Glance

Section 166B CrPC (Letter of request from a country or place outside India to a Court or an authority for investigation in India) is now Section 113 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From CrPC 166B to BNSS 113?

Section 166B of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is found in Section 113 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024, under the same heading. Section 113(1)(i) BNSS names the Chief Judicial Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate as he may appoint, where Section 166B(1)(i) CrPC named the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or Chief Judicial Magistrate or such Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate as he may appoint. The rest of the text is the same.

CrPC 166B vs BNSS 113: Comparison Table

AspectCrPC 1973 (repealed)BNSS 2023 (in force)
Section166B113
HeadingLetter of request from a country or place outside India to a Court or an authority for investigation in IndiaSame
Sub-sections2 sub-sectionsSame

CrPC 166B and BNSS 113: Bare Act Text Side by Side

CrPC 1973 (repealed)

Section 166B, CrPC 1973

166B. Letter of request from a country or place outside India to a Court or an authority for investigation in India.—(1) Upon receipt of a letter of request from a Court or an authority in a country or place outside India competent to issue such letter in that country or place for the examination of any person or production of any document or thing in relation to an offence under investigation in that country or place, the Central Government may, if it thinks fit— (i) forward the same to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or Chief Judicial Magistrate or such Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate as he may appoint in this behalf, who shall thereupon summon the person before him and record his statement or cause the document or thing to be produced; or (ii) send the letter to any police officer for investigation, who shall thereupon investigate into the offence in the same manner, as if the offence had been committed within India. (2) All the evidence taken or collected under sub-section (1), or authenticated copies thereof or the thing so collected, shall be forwarded by the Magistrate or police officer, as the case may be, to the Central Government for transmission to the Court or the authority issuing the letter of request, in such manner as the Central Government may deem fit.
BNSS 2023 (in force)

Section 113, BNSS 2023

113. Letter of request from a country or place outside India to a Court or an authority for investigation in India.—(1) Upon receipt of a letter of request from a Court or an authority in a country or place outside India competent to issue such letter in that country or place for the examination of any person or production of any document or thing in relation to an offence under investigation in that country or place, the Central Government may, if it thinks fit— (i) forward the same to the Chief Judicial Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate as he may appoint in this behalf, who shall thereupon summon the person before him and record his statement or cause the document or thing to be produced; or (ii) send the letter to any police officer for investigation, who shall thereupon investigate into the offence in the same manner, as if the offence had been committed within India. (2) All the evidence taken or collected under sub-section (1), or authenticated copies thereof or the thing so collected, shall be forwarded by the Magistrate or police officer, as the case may be, to the Central Government for transmission to the Court or the authority issuing the letter of request, in such manner as the Central Government may deem fit.

When It Applies: CrPC 166B vs BNSS 113

Under CrPC 166B
  1. Section 166B(1) CrPC applies upon receipt of a letter of request from a Court or an authority in a country or place outside India competent to issue such letter in that country or place, for the examination of any person or production of any document or thing in relation to an offence under investigation in that country or place; the Central Government may, if it thinks fit, act under Section 166B(1)(i) CrPC or Section 166B(1)(ii) CrPC.
  2. Section 166B(1)(i) CrPC says the Central Government may forward the letter of request to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or Chief Judicial Magistrate or such Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate as he may appoint in this behalf, who shall thereupon summon the person before him and record his statement or cause the document or thing to be produced.
  3. Section 166B(1)(ii) CrPC says the Central Government may send the letter to any police officer for investigation, who shall thereupon investigate into the offence in the same manner, as if the offence had been committed within India.
  4. Section 166B(2) CrPC says all the evidence taken or collected under Section 166B(1) CrPC, or authenticated copies of it, or the thing so collected, shall be forwarded by the Magistrate or police officer, as the case may be, to the Central Government for transmission to the Court or the authority issuing the letter of request, in such manner as the Central Government may deem fit.
Under BNSS 113
  1. Section 113(1) BNSS applies upon receipt of a letter of request from a Court or an authority in a country or place outside India competent to issue such letter in that country or place, for the examination of any person or production of any document or thing in relation to an offence under investigation in that country or place; the Central Government may, if it thinks fit, act under Section 113(1)(i) BNSS or Section 113(1)(ii) BNSS.
  2. Section 113(1)(i) BNSS says the Central Government may forward the letter of request to the Chief Judicial Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate as he may appoint in this behalf, who shall thereupon summon the person before him and record his statement or cause the document or thing to be produced.
  3. Section 113(1)(ii) BNSS says the Central Government may send the letter to any police officer for investigation, who shall thereupon investigate into the offence in the same manner, as if the offence had been committed within India.
  4. Section 113(2) BNSS says all the evidence taken or collected under Section 113(1) BNSS, or authenticated copies of it, or the thing so collected, shall be forwarded by the Magistrate or police officer, as the case may be, to the Central Government for transmission to the Court or the authority issuing the letter of request, in such manner as the Central Government may deem fit.

What CrPC 166B to BNSS 113 Means in Practice

Section 113(1)(ii) BNSS and Section 113(2) BNSS read as Section 166B(1)(ii) CrPC and Section 166B(2) CrPC read. Only the Magistrates named in Section 113(1)(i) BNSS differ from those named in Section 166B(1)(i) CrPC.

FAQs: CrPC 166B to BNSS 113

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

Section 113 BNSS, under the same heading. Section 166B(1) CrPC is found in Section 113(1) BNSS, Section 166B(1)(i) CrPC is found in Section 113(1)(i) BNSS, Section 166B(1)(ii) CrPC is found in Section 113(1)(ii) BNSS and Section 166B(2) CrPC is found in Section 113(2) BNSS.

Does Section 113(1)(i) BNSS name the same Magistrates as Section 166B(1)(i) CrPC?▼

No. Section 113(1)(i) BNSS names the Chief Judicial Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate as he may appoint. Section 166B(1)(i) CrPC named the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or Chief Judicial Magistrate or such Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate as he may appoint.

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: 27 Oct 2026 ·