Section 230 BNSS: Supply to accused of copy of police report and other documents
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 230 BNSS at a Glance
Section 230 BNSS deals with supply to accused of copy of police report and other documents. It replaced Section 207 CrPC on 1 July 2024.
Section 230 BNSS Bare Act Text
230. Supply to the accused of copy of police report and other documents
Supply to accused of copy of police report and other documents.
In any case where the proceeding has been instituted on a police report, the Magistrate shall without delay, and in no case beyond fourteen days from the date of production or appearance of the accused, furnish to the accused and the victim (if represented by an advocate) free of cost, a copy of each of the following:—
(i) the police report;
(ii) the first information report recorded under section 173;
(iii) the statements recorded under sub-section (3) of section 180 of all persons whom the prosecution proposes to examine as its witnesses, excluding therefrom any part in regard to which a request for such exclusion has been made by the police officer under sub-section (7) of section 193;
(iv) the confessions and statements, if any, recorded under section 183;
(v) any other document or relevant extract thereof forwarded to the Magistrate with the police report under sub-section (6) of section 193:
Provided that the Magistrate may, after perusing any such part of a statement as is referred to in clause (iii) and considering the reasons given by the police officer for the request, direct that a copy of that part of the statement or of such portion thereof as the Magistrate thinks proper, shall be furnished to the accused:
Provided further that if the Magistrate is satisfied that any such document is voluminous, he shall, instead of furnishing the accused and the victim (if represented by an advocate) with a copy thereof, may furnish the copies through electronic means or direct that he will only be allowed to inspect it either personally or through an advocate in Court:
Provided also that supply of documents in electronic form shall be considered as duly furnished.
Source: Section 230, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 230 BNSS in Simple Words
Section 230 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 applies in any case where the proceeding has been instituted on a police report. In such a case the Magistrate shall give a copy of each document below to the accused, and to the victim if represented by an advocate, free of cost. The Magistrate shall do so without delay, and in no case beyond fourteen days from the date of production or appearance of the accused. The documents are the police report and the first information report recorded under section 173 of the Sanhita. They also include the statements recorded under section 180(3) of the Sanhita of all persons whom the prosecution proposes to examine as its witnesses.
A part that the police officer asked to exclude under section 193(7) of the Sanhita is left out. They also include the confessions and statements, if any, recorded under section 183 of the Sanhita. The last item is any other document or relevant extract forwarded to the Magistrate with the police report under section 193(6) of the Sanhita. Under the first proviso, the Magistrate may direct that a copy of the excluded part, or of such portion as the Magistrate thinks proper, be furnished to the accused. The Magistrate may do so only after perusing that part and considering the reasons the police officer gave for the request.
The second proviso covers a document that the Magistrate is satisfied is voluminous. Instead of furnishing the accused and the victim, if represented by an advocate, with a copy, the Magistrate may furnish copies through electronic means. The Magistrate may instead direct that the accused will only be allowed to inspect it, personally or through an advocate in Court. Under the third proviso, supply of documents in electronic form shall be considered as duly furnished.
When Section 230 BNSS Applies
- The Magistrate shall without delay, and in no case beyond fourteen days from the date of production or appearance of the accused, furnish to the accused and the victim, if represented by an advocate, free of cost, a copy of each document listed in Section 230 BNSS.
- Under Section 230(iii) BNSS, the statements recorded under Section 180(3) BNSS of all persons whom the prosecution proposes to examine as its witnesses are furnished, excluding any part in regard to which a request for such exclusion has been made by the police officer under Section 193(7) BNSS.
- The Magistrate may, after perusing a part of a statement excluded at the request of the police officer and considering the reasons given by the police officer, direct that a copy of that part, or of such portion as the Magistrate thinks proper, shall be furnished to the accused.
- The further proviso to Section 230 BNSS reads that if the Magistrate is satisfied that any such document is voluminous, the Magistrate shall, instead of furnishing the accused and the victim, if represented by an advocate, with a copy, may furnish the copies through electronic means or direct that the accused will only be allowed to inspect it either personally or through an advocate in Court.
- The last proviso to Section 230 BNSS reads that supply of documents in electronic form shall be considered as duly furnished.
Time Limits Under Section 230 BNSS
- The Magistrate shall furnish the copies without delay.Act text: “the Magistrate shall without delay, and in no case beyond fourteen days”
- The Magistrate shall furnish the copies in no case beyond fourteen days from the date of production or appearance of the accused.Act text: “and in no case beyond fourteen days from the date of production or appearance of the accused”
Example of Section 230 BNSS
When Section 230 BNSS Does Not Apply
- Section 230 BNSS speaks of a proceeding instituted on a police report. It does not deal with a proceeding instituted on a complaint.
Section 230 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)
Section 230 BNSS replaces Section 207 CrPC from the old criminal code.
Section 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is found in Section 230 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Section 230 BNSS adds, after the words without delay, the words and in no case beyond fourteen days from the date of production or appearance of the accused. Section 230 BNSS reads to the accused and the victim, if represented by an advocate, where Section 207 CrPC read to the accused. Section 230 BNSS refers to Section 173 BNSS, Section 180(3) BNSS, Section 193(7) BNSS, Section 183 BNSS and Section 193(6) BNSS where Section 207 CrPC referred to Section 154 CrPC, Section 161(3) CrPC, Section 173(6) CrPC, Section 164 CrPC and Section 173(5) CrPC. The further proviso to Section 230 BNSS reads any such document where Section 207 CrPC read any document referred to in Section 207(v) CrPC, adds the words may furnish the copies through electronic means or, and reads an advocate where Section 207 CrPC read pleader. Section 230 BNSS adds a last proviso on supply of documents in electronic form.
View CrPC Section 207 →FAQs on Section 230 BNSS
To whom, and by when, must the Magistrate furnish copies under Section 230 BNSS?▼
Section 230 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 reads that the Magistrate shall without delay, and in no case beyond fourteen days from the date of production or appearance of the accused, furnish to the accused and the victim, if represented by an advocate, free of cost, a copy of each of the documents listed in the section.
Can part of a witness statement be left out of the copy under Section 230 BNSS?▼
Section 230(iii) BNSS reads that the statements are furnished excluding any part in regard to which a request for such exclusion has been made by the police officer under Section 193(7) BNSS. The first proviso to Section 230 BNSS reads that the Magistrate may, after perusing that part and considering the reasons given by the police officer for the request, direct that a copy of that part, or of such portion as the Magistrate thinks proper, shall be furnished to the accused.
What does Section 230 BNSS say about a voluminous document and electronic means?▼
The further proviso to Section 230 BNSS reads that if the Magistrate is satisfied that any such document is voluminous, the Magistrate shall, instead of furnishing the accused and the victim, if represented by an advocate, with a copy, may furnish the copies through electronic means or direct that the accused will only be allowed to inspect it either personally or through an advocate in Court. The last proviso reads that supply of documents in electronic form shall be considered as duly furnished.
What changed from Section 207 CrPC to Section 230 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼
From 1 July 2024, Section 230 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Section 230 BNSS adds, after the words without delay, the words and in no case beyond fourteen days from the date of production or appearance of the accused, which Section 207 CrPC does not have. Section 230 BNSS reads to the accused and the victim, if represented by an advocate, where Section 207 CrPC read to the accused. Section 230 BNSS refers to Section 173 BNSS, Section 180(3) BNSS, Section 193(7) BNSS, Section 183 BNSS and Section 193(6) BNSS where Section 207 CrPC referred to Section 154 CrPC, Section 161(3) CrPC, Section 173(6) CrPC, Section 164 CrPC and Section 173(5) CrPC. The further proviso to Section 230 BNSS reads any such document where the further proviso to Section 207 CrPC read any document referred to in Section 207(v) CrPC, and reads the accused and the victim, if represented by an advocate, where Section 207 CrPC read the accused. It reads may furnish the copies through electronic means or direct that he will only be allowed to inspect it where Section 207 CrPC read direct that he will only be allowed to inspect it, and reads an advocate where Section 207 CrPC read pleader. Section 230 BNSS adds a last proviso, which reads that supply of documents in electronic form shall be considered as duly furnished.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 26 Oct 2026 ·