Section 515 BNSS: Commencement of period of limitation

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 515 BNSS at a Glance

Section 515 BNSS deals with commencement of period of limitation. It replaced Section 469 CrPC on 1 July 2024.

Was CrPC

Section 469 →

Section 515 BNSS Bare Act Text

(1) The period of limitation, in relation to an offender, shall commence,—

(a) on the date of the offence; or

(b) where the commission of the offence was not known to the person aggrieved by the offence or to any police officer, the first day on which such offence comes to the knowledge of such person or to any police officer, whichever is earlier; or

(c) where it is not known by whom the offence was committed, the first day on which the identity of the offender is known to the person aggrieved by the offence or to the police officer making investigation into the offence, whichever is earlier.

(2) In computing the said period, the day from which such period is to be computed shall be excluded.

Source: Section 515, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 515 BNSS in Simple Words

Section 515 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 is headed Commencement of period of limitation. Section 515(1) BNSS states when the period of limitation, in relation to an offender, shall commence.

Section 515(1)(a) BNSS names the date of the offence. Section 515(1)(b) BNSS applies where the commission of the offence was not known to the person aggrieved by the offence or to any police officer.

Section 515(1)(c) BNSS applies where it is not known by whom the offence was committed. Section 515(2) BNSS states that in computing the said period, the day from which such period is to be computed shall be excluded.

When Section 515 BNSS Applies

  • Section 515(1)(a) BNSS states that the period of limitation, in relation to an offender, shall commence on the date of the offence.
  • Section 515(1)(b) BNSS applies where the commission of the offence was not known to the person aggrieved by the offence or to any police officer. The period shall commence on the first day on which such offence comes to the knowledge of such person or to any police officer, whichever is earlier.
  • Section 515(1)(c) BNSS applies where it is not known by whom the offence was committed. The period shall commence on the first day on which the identity of the offender is known to the person aggrieved by the offence or to the police officer making investigation into the offence, whichever is earlier.
  • Section 515(2) BNSS states that in computing the said period, the day from which such period is to be computed shall be excluded.

Example of Section 515 BNSS

An offence is committed against Ramesh on a Monday. The commission of the offence is not known to Ramesh or to any police officer on that Monday. Ramesh comes to know of the offence on the Thursday of that week, and Inspector Kavita comes to know of it on the Friday of that week. Under Section 515(1)(b) BNSS, the period of limitation in relation to the offender shall commence on the first day on which such offence comes to the knowledge of such person or to any police officer, whichever is earlier, which is the Thursday.

When Section 515 BNSS Does Not Apply

  • Section 515 BNSS speaks of when the period of limitation shall commence in relation to an offender. It does not deal with Section 514 BNSS, headed Bar to taking cognizance after lapse of period of limitation.
  • Section 515(2) BNSS speaks of the day from which the said period is to be computed. It does not deal with Section 516 BNSS, headed Exclusion of time in certain cases.

Section 515 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)

Section 515 BNSS replaced Section 469 CrPC from 1 July 2024.

Section 469 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is found from 1 July 2024 as Section 515 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, with the same text. Section 515(1) BNSS and Section 515(2) BNSS are Section 469(1) CrPC and Section 469(2) CrPC. The text contains no cross-reference to another section, so none is renumbered.

Each sub-section below names its own source.

FAQs on Section 515 BNSS

When does the period of limitation commence under Section 515 BNSS?▼

Section 515(1) BNSS states that the period of limitation, in relation to an offender, shall commence on the date of the offence. It also states that where the commission of the offence was not known to the person aggrieved by the offence or to any police officer, the period shall commence on the first day on which such offence comes to the knowledge of such person or to any police officer, whichever is earlier. It further states that where it is not known by whom the offence was committed, the period shall commence on the first day on which the identity of the offender is known to the person aggrieved by the offence or to the police officer making investigation into the offence, whichever is earlier.

Whose knowledge is named in Section 515(1)(b) BNSS and Section 515(1)(c) BNSS?▼

Section 515(1)(b) BNSS names the person aggrieved by the offence or any police officer. Section 515(1)(c) BNSS names the person aggrieved by the offence or the police officer making investigation into the offence.

What does Section 515(2) BNSS say about the day from which the period is computed?▼

Section 515(2) BNSS states that in computing the said period, the day from which such period is to be computed shall be excluded.

What changed from Section 469 CrPC to Section 515 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼

Section 515 BNSS has the same text as Section 469 CrPC. Section 515(1) BNSS is Section 469(1) CrPC and Section 515(2) BNSS is Section 469(2) CrPC.

Section 515 BNSS: Sub-sections Explained

Section 515(1) BNSS: Commencement of the period of limitation

▶

Bare Act Text

(1) The period of limitation, in relation to an offender, shall commence,—

(a) on the date of the offence; or

(b) where the commission of the offence was not known to the person aggrieved by the offence or to any police officer, the first day on which such offence comes to the knowledge of such person or to any police officer, whichever is earlier; or

(c) where it is not known by whom the offence was committed, the first day on which the identity of the offender is known to the person aggrieved by the offence or to the police officer making investigation into the offence, whichever is earlier.

Previous Law

CrPC 469 → Section 515(1) BNSS

Section 515(2) BNSS: Commencement of the period of limitation

▶

Bare Act Text

(2) In computing the said period, the day from which such period is to be computed shall be excluded.

Previous Law

CrPC 469(2) → Section 515(2) BNSS

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Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 26 Oct 2026 ·