Section 193 BNSS: Report of police officer on completion of investigation
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 193 BNSS at a Glance
Section 193 BNSS deals with report of police officer on completion of investigation. It replaced Section 173 CrPC on 1 July 2024. Popularly called the chargesheet. Section 193(3)(ii) BNSS requires the police to inform the informant or the victim of the progress of the investigation within a period of ninety days.
Section 193 BNSS Bare Act Text
(1) Every investigation under this Chapter shall be completed without unnecessary delay.
(2) The investigation in relation to an offence under sections 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70, 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 be completed within two months from the date on which the information was recorded by the officer in charge of the police station.
(3) (i) As soon as the investigation is completed, the officer in charge of the police station shall forward, including through electronic communication to a Magistrate empowered to take cognizance of the offence on a police report, a report in the form as the State Government may, by rules provide, stating—
(a) the names of the parties;
(b) the nature of the information;
(c) the names of the persons who appear to be acquainted with the circumstances of the case;
(d) whether any offence appears to have been committed and, if so, by whom;
(e) whether the accused has been arrested;
(f) whether the accused has been released on his bond or bail bond;
(g) whether the accused has been forwarded in custody under section 190;
(h) whether the report of medical examination of the woman has been attached where investigation relates to an offence under sections 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70 or section 71 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023;
(i) the sequence of custody in case of electronic device;
(ii) the police officer shall, within a period of ninety days, inform the progress of the investigation by any means including through electronic communication to the informant or the victim;
(iii) the officer shall also communicate, in such manner as the State Government may, by rules, provide, the action taken by him, to the person, if any, by whom the information relating to the commission of the offence was first given.
(4) Where a superior officer of police has been appointed under section 177, the report shall, in any case in which the State Government by general or special order so directs, be submitted through that officer, and he may, pending the orders of the Magistrate, direct the officer in charge of the police station to make further investigation.
(5) Whenever it appears from a report forwarded under this section that the accused has been released on his bond or bail bond, the Magistrate shall make such order for the discharge of such bond or bail bond or otherwise as he thinks fit.
(6) When such report is in respect of a case to which section 190 applies, the police officer shall forward to the Magistrate along with the report—
(a) all documents or relevant extracts thereof on which the prosecution proposes to rely other than those already sent to the Magistrate during investigation;
(b) the statements recorded under section 180 of all the persons whom the prosecution proposes to examine as its witnesses.
(7) If the police officer is of opinion that any part of any such 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 of the statement and append a note requesting the Magistrate to exclude that part from the copies to be granted to the accused and stating his reasons for making such request.
(8) Subject to the provisions contained in sub-section (7), the police officer investigating the case shall 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:
Provided that supply of report and other documents by electronic communication shall be considered as duly served.
(9) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to preclude further investigation in respect of an offence after a report under sub-section (3) has been forwarded to the Magistrate and, where upon such investigation, the officer in charge of the police station obtains further evidence, oral or documentary, he shall forward to the Magistrate a further report or reports regarding such evidence in the form as the State Government may, by rules, provide; and the provisions of sub-sections (3) to (8) shall, as far as may be, apply in relation to such report or reports as they apply in relation to a report forwarded under sub-section (3):
Provided that 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.
Source: Section 193, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 193 BNSS in Simple Words
Section 193 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with the report a police officer makes on completing an investigation. Under Section 193(1), every investigation under Chapter XIII of the Sanhita shall be completed without unnecessary delay. Under Section 193(2), an investigation of an offence under section 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70 or 71 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 shall be completed within two months. The same applies to an offence under section 4, 6, 8 or 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The two months run from the date on which the information was recorded by the officer in charge of the police station. Under Section 193(3)(i), the officer in charge of the police station shall forward a report as soon as the investigation is completed, including through electronic communication. The report goes to a Magistrate empowered to take cognizance of the offence on a police report, in the form the State Government may provide by rules. The report shall state the names of the parties and the nature of the information. It shall state the names of the persons who appear to be acquainted with the circumstances of the case. It shall state whether any offence appears to have been committed and, if so, by whom. It shall state whether the accused has been arrested. It shall state whether the accused has been released on bond or bail bond. It shall state whether the accused has been forwarded in custody under section 190. Section 193(3)(i)(h) applies where the investigation relates to an offence under section 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70 or 71 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
In that case the report shall state whether the report of medical examination of the woman has been attached. It shall also state the sequence of custody in case of electronic device. Under Section 193(3)(ii), 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 electronic communication. Under Section 193(3)(iii), the officer shall also communicate the action taken to the person, if any, by whom the information relating to the commission of the offence was first given. This communication is made in such manner as the State Government may provide by rules. Under Section 193(4), suppose a superior officer of police has been appointed under section 177. In any case in which the State Government by general or special order so directs, the report shall be submitted through that officer. That officer may, pending the orders of the Magistrate, direct the officer in charge of the police station to make further investigation. Section 193(5) applies whenever it appears from a report forwarded under Section 193 that the accused has been released on bond or bail bond. In that case the Magistrate shall make such order for the discharge of the bond or bail bond or otherwise as the Magistrate thinks fit. Under Section 193(6), when the report is in respect of a case to which section 190 applies, the police officer shall forward the following to the Magistrate along with the report. Under Section 193(6)(a), these are all documents or relevant extracts on which the prosecution proposes to rely, other than those already sent to the Magistrate during investigation. Under Section 193(6)(b), these are also the statements recorded under section 180 of all the persons whom the prosecution proposes to examine as its witnesses. Section 193(7) deals with a part of such a statement that, in the opinion of the police officer, is not relevant to the subject matter of the proceedings.
It also deals with a part whose disclosure to the accused is, in that opinion, not essential in the interests of justice and is inexpedient in the public interest. For such a part, the police officer shall indicate that part and append a note requesting the Magistrate to exclude it from the copies to be granted to the accused. The note shall state the reasons for the request. Under Section 193(8), subject to Section 193(7), the police officer investigating the case shall also submit to the Magistrate copies of the police report along with other documents duly indexed. The number of copies is such as is required for supply to the accused under section 230. The proviso says that supply of the report and other documents by electronic communication shall be considered as duly served. Under Section 193(9), nothing in Section 193 precludes further investigation of an offence after a report under Section 193(3) has been forwarded to the Magistrate. Suppose the officer in charge of the police station obtains further evidence, oral or documentary, on such investigation. The officer shall then forward to the Magistrate a further report or reports regarding that evidence in the form the State Government may provide by rules. Sub-sections 193(3) to 193(8) apply to that further report or reports, as far as may be, as they apply to a report forwarded under Section 193(3). The proviso says that further investigation during the trial may be conducted with the permission of the Court trying the case. That further investigation shall be completed within a period of ninety days, which may be extended with the permission of the Court.
When Section 193 BNSS Applies
- 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 Under Section 193 BNSS
- 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”
Example of Section 193 BNSS
When Section 193 BNSS Does Not Apply
- The two-month period for completing an investigation under Section 193(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 does not apply where the investigation is not 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.
- The requirement under Section 193(4) BNSS to submit the police report through a superior officer of police does not apply where no superior officer of police has been appointed under Section 177 BNSS or where the State Government has not by general or special order so directed.
- The duty under Section 193(6) BNSS to forward relied-upon prosecution documents and Section 180 BNSS witness statements along with the report does not apply when the report is not in respect of a case to which Section 190 BNSS applies.
- A police officer cannot request the Magistrate under Section 193(7) BNSS to exclude a part of a witness statement from the copies granted to the accused unless the police officer is of opinion that the part 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.
Section 193 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)
Section 193 BNSS replaced Section 173 CrPC from 1 July 2024.
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.
Each sub-section below names its own source.
FAQs on Section 193 BNSS
What particulars must a police report state under Section 193(3)(i) BNSS?▼
Under Section 193(3)(i) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the report shall state the names of the parties, the nature of the information, the names of persons who appear to be acquainted with the circumstances, whether any offence appears to have been committed and by whom, whether the accused was arrested, released on bond or bail bond, or forwarded in custody under Section 190 BNSS, whether the medical examination report is attached in specified offences, and the sequence of custody for any electronic device.
How and when must the police inform the informant or victim about investigation progress under Section 193 BNSS?▼
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. This communication may be made by any means, including through electronic communication. In addition, upon completing the investigation, the officer shall under Section 193(3)(iii) BNSS communicate the action taken by him to the person, if any, who first gave the information, in the manner provided by State Government rules.
How are copies of the police report and documents prepared and supplied for the accused under Section 193(8) BNSS?▼
Subject to the exclusion provisions of Section 193(7) BNSS, the police officer investigating the case shall under Section 193(8) BNSS 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. The proviso to Section 193(8) BNSS provides that supply of the report and other documents by electronic communication shall be considered as duly served.
Can the police conduct further investigation after forwarding the report under Section 193(3) BNSS?▼
Yes. Under Section 193(9) BNSS, nothing in Section 193 BNSS precludes further investigation after a report under Section 193(3) BNSS is forwarded to the Magistrate, and if the officer in charge of the police station obtains further oral or documentary evidence, he shall forward a further report or reports. The proviso to Section 193(9) BNSS adds 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.
When can a police officer ask the Magistrate to exclude part of a witness statement under Section 193(7) BNSS?▼
Under Section 193(7) BNSS, if the police officer is of opinion that any part of a witness statement recorded under Section 180 BNSS 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 of the statement. He shall also append a note requesting the Magistrate to exclude that part from the copies granted to the accused and state his reasons.
What changed in Section 193 BNSS from 1 July 2024 compared to Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973?▼
From 1 July 2024, Section 193 BNSS adds Sections 4, 6, 8, and 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 to the two-month investigation limit, allows forwarding the report through electronic communication, requires stating the sequence of custody of an electronic device, and requires informing the informant or victim of progress within ninety days. It also requires the police officer to submit duly indexed copies to the Magistrate for supply to the accused under Section 230 BNSS, treats supply by electronic communication as duly served, and 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.
Section 193 BNSS: Sub-sections Explained
Section 193(1) BNSS: Report of police officer on completion of investigation
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Bare Act Text
(1) Every investigation under this Chapter shall be completed without unnecessary delay.
Section 193(2) BNSS: Report of police officer on completion of investigation
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Bare Act Text
(2) The investigation in relation to an offence under sections 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70, 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 be completed within two months from the date on which the information was recorded by the officer in charge of the police station.
Previous Law
CrPC 173(1A) → Section 193(2) BNSS
Section 193(3) BNSS: Report of police officer on completion of investigation
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Bare Act Text
(3) (i) As soon as the investigation is completed, the officer in charge of the police station shall forward, including through electronic communication to a Magistrate empowered to take cognizance of the offence on a police report, a report in the form as the State Government may, by rules provide, stating—
(a) the names of the parties;
(b) the nature of the information;
(c) the names of the persons who appear to be acquainted with the circumstances of the case;
(d) whether any offence appears to have been committed and, if so, by whom;
(e) whether the accused has been arrested;
(f) whether the accused has been released on his bond or bail bond;
(g) whether the accused has been forwarded in custody under section 190;
(h) whether the report of medical examination of the woman has been attached where investigation relates to an offence under sections 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70 or section 71 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023;
(i) the sequence of custody in case of electronic device;
(ii) the police officer shall, within a period of ninety days, inform the progress of the investigation by any means including through electronic communication to the informant or the victim;
(iii) the officer shall also communicate, in such manner as the State Government may, by rules, provide, the action taken by him, to the person, if any, by whom the information relating to the commission of the offence was first given.
Section 193(4) BNSS: Report of police officer on completion of investigation
▶
Bare Act Text
(4) Where a superior officer of police has been appointed under section 177, the report shall, in any case in which the State Government by general or special order so directs, be submitted through that officer, and he may, pending the orders of the Magistrate, direct the officer in charge of the police station to make further investigation.
Section 193(5) BNSS: Report of police officer on completion of investigation
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Bare Act Text
(5) Whenever it appears from a report forwarded under this section that the accused has been released on his bond or bail bond, the Magistrate shall make such order for the discharge of such bond or bail bond or otherwise as he thinks fit.
Section 193(6) BNSS: Report of police officer on completion of investigation
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Bare Act Text
(6) When such report is in respect of a case to which section 190 applies, the police officer shall forward to the Magistrate along with the report—
(a) all documents or relevant extracts thereof on which the prosecution proposes to rely other than those already sent to the Magistrate during investigation;
(b) the statements recorded under section 180 of all the persons whom the prosecution proposes to examine as its witnesses.
Section 193(7) BNSS: Report of police officer on completion of investigation
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Bare Act Text
(7) If the police officer is of opinion that any part of any such 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 of the statement and append a note requesting the Magistrate to exclude that part from the copies to be granted to the accused and stating his reasons for making such request.
Section 193(8) BNSS: Report of police officer on completion of investigation
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Bare Act Text
(8) Subject to the provisions contained in sub-section (7), the police officer investigating the case shall 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:
Provided that supply of report and other documents by electronic communication shall be considered as duly served.
Section 193(9) BNSS: Report of police officer on completion of investigation
▶
Bare Act Text
(9) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to preclude further investigation in respect of an offence after a report under sub-section (3) has been forwarded to the Magistrate and, where upon such investigation, the officer in charge of the police station obtains further evidence, oral or documentary, he shall forward to the Magistrate a further report or reports regarding such evidence in the form as the State Government may, by rules, provide; and the provisions of sub-sections (3) to (8) shall, as far as may be, apply in relation to such report or reports as they apply in relation to a report forwarded under sub-section (3):
Provided that 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.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 27 Oct 2026 ·