CrPC 173 to BNSS 193: Report of police officer on completion of investigation
Section 173 CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 193 BNSS (2023)
CrPC 173 to BNSS 193 at a Glance
Section 173 CrPC (Report of police officer on completion of investigation) is now Section 193 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.
What Changed From CrPC 173 to BNSS 193?
Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 becomes Section 193 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Renumbering sub-sections, updating cross-references, and replacing bond with or without sureties with bond or bail bond under Sections 2(1)(e) and 2(1)(d) BNSS are changes of form. Substantively, Section 193 BNSS adds specified child sexual offences to the two-month limit, permits electronic forwarding of the report, adds the sequence of custody for electronic devices, requires a ninety-day progress update to the informant or victim, requires duly indexed copies to be submitted to the Magistrate for supply under Section 230 BNSS, and adds a proviso on further investigation during the trial with the permission of the Court trying the case, to be completed within ninety days unless extended.
CrPC 173 vs BNSS 193: Comparison Table
| Aspect | CrPC 1973 (repealed) | BNSS 2023 (in force) |
|---|---|---|
| Section | 173 | 193 |
| Heading | Report of police officer on completion of investigation | Same |
| Sub-sections | 9 sub-sections | Same |
| Cross-references | s.170, s.158, s.161 | s.190, s.177, s.180 |
CrPC 173 and BNSS 193: Bare Act Text Side by Side
Section 173, CrPC 1973
Section 193, BNSS 2023
When It Applies: CrPC 173 vs BNSS 193
- Upon completion of the investigation, the officer in charge of the police station shall under Section 173(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 forward a report in the State Government's prescribed form to a Magistrate empowered to take cognizance of the offence on a police report and shall communicate the action taken to the person who first gave the information.
- Where a superior officer of police is appointed under Section 158 CrPC and the State Government by general or special order so directs, the report under Section 173(3) CrPC shall be submitted through that officer, who may direct the officer in charge of the police station to make further investigation.
- Whenever it appears from a report forwarded under Section 173(4) CrPC that the accused has been released on his bond, the Magistrate shall make such order for the discharge of that bond or otherwise as he thinks fit.
- When the report relates to a case to which Section 170 CrPC applies, the police officer shall under Section 173(5) CrPC forward with the report all unforwarded documents or relevant extracts on which the prosecution proposes to rely and the Section 161 CrPC statements of all proposed prosecution witnesses, and under Section 173(7) CrPC may furnish copies of all or any of them to the accused if he finds it convenient so to do.
- If the police officer is of opinion under Section 173(6) CrPC that any part of a witness statement is not relevant to the subject-matter of the proceedings or that its disclosure to the accused is not essential in the interests of justice and is inexpedient in the public interest, he shall indicate that part and append a note with his reasons requesting the Magistrate to exclude it from the copies granted to the accused.
- After a report under Section 173(2) CrPC has been forwarded to the Magistrate, Section 173(8) CrPC does not preclude further investigation in respect of the offence, and if the officer in charge of the police station obtains further oral or documentary evidence, he shall forward a further report or reports in the prescribed form to the Magistrate.
- As soon as the investigation is completed, the officer in charge of the police station shall under Section 193(3)(i) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 forward, including through electronic communication, a report in the form provided by State Government rules to a Magistrate empowered to take cognizance of the offence on a police report, and shall under Section 193(3)(iii) BNSS communicate the action taken to the person who first gave the information.
- Under Section 193(3)(ii) BNSS, the police officer shall within a period of ninety days inform the informant or the victim of the progress of the investigation by any means, including through electronic communication.
- Where a superior officer of police is appointed under Section 177 BNSS and the State Government by general or special order so directs, the report under Section 193(4) BNSS shall be submitted through that officer, who may direct further investigation pending the Magistrate's orders, and whenever it appears from a report under Section 193(5) BNSS that the accused has been released on his bond or bail bond, the Magistrate shall make such order for its discharge or otherwise as he thinks fit.
- When the report is in respect of a case to which Section 190 BNSS applies, the police officer shall under Section 193(6) BNSS forward with the report all unforwarded documents or relevant extracts on which the prosecution proposes to rely and the Section 180 BNSS statements of all proposed prosecution witnesses, and if he is of opinion under Section 193(7) BNSS that any part of a statement is not relevant to the subject matter of the proceedings or that its disclosure to the accused is not essential in the interests of justice and is inexpedient in the public interest, he shall indicate that part and append a reasoned note requesting the Magistrate to exclude it.
- Subject to Section 193(7) BNSS, the police officer investigating the case shall under Section 193(8) BNSS also submit such number of copies of the police report along with other documents duly indexed to the Magistrate for supply to the accused as required under Section 230 BNSS, and the proviso provides that supply of the report and other documents by electronic communication shall be considered as duly served.
- After a report under Section 193(3) BNSS is forwarded, the officer in charge of the police station who obtains further oral or documentary evidence upon further investigation shall under Section 193(9) BNSS forward a further report or reports to the Magistrate in the form provided by State Government rules, and under the proviso, further investigation during the trial may be conducted with the permission of the Court trying the case.
Time Limits: CrPC 173 to BNSS 193
- Every police investigation covered by Section 173(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 shall be completed without unnecessary delay.Act text: “Every investigation under this Chapter shall be completed without unnecessary delay.”
- An investigation in relation to an offence under Sections 376, 376A, 376AB, 376B, 376C, 376D, 376DA, 376DB or 376E of the Indian Penal Code shall under Section 173(1A) CrPC be completed within two months from the date on which the information was recorded by the officer in charge of the police station.Act text: “shall be completed within two months from the date on which the information was recorded”
- As soon as the investigation is completed, the officer in charge of the police station shall under Section 173(2)(i) CrPC forward the police report to a Magistrate empowered to take cognizance of the offence on a police report.Act text: “As soon as it is completed, the officer in charge of the police station shall forward to a Magistrate”
- A superior officer of police through whom the report is submitted under Section 173(3) CrPC may direct the officer in charge of the police station to make further investigation pending the orders of the Magistrate.Act text: “he may, pending the orders of the Magistrate, direct the officer in charge of the police station”
- Every investigation covered by Section 193(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 shall be completed without unnecessary delay.Act text: “Every investigation under this Chapter shall be completed without unnecessary delay.”
- An investigation in relation to an offence under Sections 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70 or 71 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 or under Sections 4, 6, 8 or Section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 shall under Section 193(2) BNSS be completed within two months from the date on which the information was recorded by the officer in charge of the police station.Act text: “shall be completed within two months from the date on which the information was recorded”
- As soon as the investigation is completed, the officer in charge of the police station shall under Section 193(3)(i) BNSS forward the police report to a Magistrate empowered to take cognizance of the offence on a police report.Act text: “As soon as the investigation is completed, the officer in charge of the police station shall forward”
- Under Section 193(3)(ii) BNSS, the police officer shall inform the informant or the victim of the progress of the investigation within a period of ninety days.Act text: “the police officer shall, within a period of ninety days, inform the progress of the investigation”
- A superior officer of police through whom the report is submitted under Section 193(4) BNSS may direct the officer in charge of the police station to make further investigation pending the orders of the Magistrate.Act text: “he may, pending the orders of the Magistrate, direct the officer in charge of the police station”
- Under the proviso to Section 193(9) BNSS, further investigation during the trial may be conducted with the permission of the Court trying the case, and the same shall be completed within a period of ninety days, which may be extended with the permission of the Court.Act text: “the same shall be completed within a period of ninety days which may be extended with the permission”
What CrPC 173 to BNSS 193 Means in Practice
FAQs: CrPC 173 to BNSS 193
How did the rules on further investigation change between Section 173(8) CrPC and Section 193(9) BNSS?▼
Both Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Section 193(9) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 allow further investigation after the police report is forwarded to the Magistrate and require a further report if further oral or documentary evidence is obtained. Section 193(9) BNSS also adds a proviso that further investigation during the trial may be conducted with the permission of the Court trying the case and shall be completed within ninety days, which may be extended with the permission of the Court.
How did Section 193(8) BNSS change the rule in Section 173(7) CrPC on supplying copies to the accused?▼
Under Section 173(7) CrPC, the investigating police officer had a discretionary power and could furnish copies of all or any of the documents referred to in Section 173(5) CrPC to the accused where he found it convenient so to do. Section 193(8) BNSS does not carry over that discretion. Instead, subject to Section 193(7) BNSS, it requires the police officer to submit duly indexed copies of the police report and other documents to the Magistrate for supply under Section 230 BNSS, while its proviso treats electronic supply as duly served.
What new requirements did Section 193(3) BNSS add compared to Section 173(2) CrPC?▼
Compared to Section 173(2) CrPC, Section 193(3)(i) BNSS allows the officer in charge of the police station to forward the completed police report to the empowered Magistrate through electronic communication and adds Section 193(3)(i)(i) BNSS requiring the report to state the sequence of custody in case of an electronic device. In addition, Section 193(3)(ii) BNSS introduces a new duty requiring the police officer to inform the informant or the victim of the progress of the investigation within ninety days, including through electronic communication.
Does replacing bond with or without sureties with bond or bail bond in Section 193 BNSS change the law?▼
No. Replacing the references in Sections 173(2)(i)(f) and 173(4) CrPC to a bond with or without sureties with the phrase bond or bail bond in Sections 193(3)(i)(f) and 193(5) BNSS is a change of form. The reason is that Section 2(1)(e) BNSS defines a bond as an undertaking for release without surety and Section 2(1)(d) BNSS defines a bail bond as an undertaking for release with surety, so the underlying rule is unchanged.
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 ·