Section 207 CrPC: Supply to the accused of copy of police report and other documents

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 207 CrPC at a Glance

Section 207 CrPC deals with supply to the accused of copy of police report and other documents. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 230 BNSS.

Now BNSS

Section 230 →

What Section 207 CrPC Says

207. Supply to the 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 furnish to the accused, free of cost, a copy of each of the following:—
(i) the police report;
(ii) the first information report recorded under section 154;
(iii) the statements recorded under sub-section (3) of section 161 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 (6) of section 173;
(iv) the confessions and statements, if any, recorded under section 164;
(v) any other document or relevant extract thereof forwarded to the Magistrate with the police report under sub-section (5) of section 173:
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 document referred to in clause (v) is voluminous, he shall, instead of furnishing the accused with a copy thereof, direct that he will only be allowed to inspect it either personally or through pleader in Court.

Source: Section 207, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 207 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 applies in any case where the proceeding has been instituted on a police report. In such a case the Magistrate shall without delay give the accused a copy of each of the documents listed below. The copies are free of cost. The documents are the police report and the first information report recorded under section 154 of the Code. They also include the statements recorded under section 161(3) of the Code of all persons whom the prosecution proposes to examine as its witnesses.

The police officer may have requested under section 173(6) of the Code that a part of such a statement be excluded, and that part is left out. They also include the confessions and statements, if any, recorded under section 164 of the Code. The last item is any other document or relevant extract forwarded to the Magistrate with the police report under section 173(5) of the Code. Under the 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.

Under the further proviso, a document forwarded under section 173(5) of the Code may be voluminous. If the Magistrate is satisfied of this, the Magistrate shall, instead of furnishing the accused with a copy, direct that the accused will only be allowed to inspect it. The accused may inspect it either personally or through pleader in Court.

When Section 207 CrPC Applies

The Magistrate shall without delay furnish to the accused, free of cost, a copy of each document listed in Section 207 CrPC, in any case where the proceeding has been instituted on a police report.
Under Section 207(iii) CrPC, the statements recorded under Section 161(3) CrPC 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 173(6) CrPC.
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.
If the Magistrate is satisfied that a document referred to in Section 207(v) CrPC is voluminous, the Magistrate shall, instead of furnishing the accused with a copy, direct that the accused will only be allowed to inspect it either personally or through pleader in Court.

Time Limits Under Section 207 CrPC

The Magistrate shall furnish the copies without delay.Act text: “the Magistrate shall without delay furnish to the accused”

Example of Section 207 CrPC

A proceeding against Ramesh has been instituted on a police report. Under Section 207 CrPC, the Magistrate shall without delay furnish to Ramesh, free of cost, a copy of the police report, the first information report recorded under Section 154 CrPC and the confessions and statements, if any, recorded under Section 164 CrPC. The police officer has made a request under Section 173(6) CrPC for the exclusion of part of a statement of Suresh, a person whom the prosecution proposes to examine as a witness. The Magistrate may, after perusing that part 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 Ramesh. A document forwarded with the police report under Section 173(5) CrPC is voluminous. If the Magistrate is satisfied of that, the Magistrate shall direct that Ramesh will only be allowed to inspect it either personally or through pleader in Court.

When Section 207 CrPC Does Not Apply

Section 207 CrPC speaks of a proceeding instituted on a police report. It does not deal with a proceeding instituted on a complaint.
The further proviso to Section 207 CrPC speaks of a document referred to in Section 207(v) CrPC. It does not deal with the police report or the first information report, which Section 207(i) CrPC and Section 207(ii) CrPC name.

Section 207 CrPC Under BNSS 230: What Changed

Section 207 CrPC is now covered under Section 230 BNSS.

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 detailed comparison (CrPC 207 vs BNSS 230) →

FAQs on Section 207 CrPC

What must the Magistrate furnish to the accused under Section 207 CrPC?▼

Section 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 reads that in any case where the proceeding has been instituted on a police report, the Magistrate shall without delay furnish to the accused, free of cost, a copy of the police report, the first information report recorded under Section 154 CrPC, the statements recorded under Section 161(3) CrPC of all persons whom the prosecution proposes to examine as its witnesses, the confessions and statements, if any, recorded under Section 164 CrPC, and any other document or relevant extract forwarded to the Magistrate with the police report under Section 173(5) CrPC.

Can part of a witness statement be left out of the copy under Section 207 CrPC?▼

Section 207(iii) CrPC 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 173(6) CrPC. The proviso to Section 207 CrPC 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 207 CrPC say about a voluminous document?▼

The further proviso to Section 207 CrPC reads that if the Magistrate is satisfied that any document referred to in Section 207(v) CrPC is voluminous, the Magistrate shall, instead of furnishing the accused with a copy, direct that the accused will only be allowed to inspect it either personally or through pleader in Court.

Where is Section 207 CrPC found in the BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼

Section 207 CrPC has no sub-sections, and maps as a whole to Section 230 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. 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.

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Sources: Bare Act Text, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Last updated: 26 Oct 2026 ·