BNSS §185
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165. Search by police officer.—(1) Whenever an officer in charge of a police station or a police officer making an investigation has reasonable grounds for believing that anything necessary for the purposes of an investigation into any offence which he is authorised to investigate may be found in any place within the limits of the police station of which he is in charge, or to which he is attached, and that such thing cannot in his opinion be otherwise obtained without undue delay, such officer may, after recording in writing the grounds of his belief and specifying in such writing, so far as possible, the thing for which search is to be made, search, or cause search to be made, for such thing in any place within the limits of such station.
(2) A police officer proceeding under sub-section (1), shall, if practicable, conduct the search in person.
(3) If he is unable to conduct the search in person, and there is no other person competent to make the search present at the time, he may, after recording in writing his reasons for so doing, require any officer subordinate to him to make the search, and he shall deliver to such subordinate officer an order in writing, specifying the place to be searched, and so far as possible, the thing for which search is to be made; and such subordinate officer may thereupon search for such thing in such place.
(4) The provisions of this Code as to search-warrants and the general provisions as to searches contained in section 100 shall, so far as may be, apply to a search made under this section.
(5) Copies of any record made under sub-section
(1) or sub-section
(3) shall forthwith be sent to the nearest Magistrate empowered to take cognizance of the offence, and the owner or occupier of the place searched shall, on application, be furnished, free of cost, with a copy of the same by the Magistrate.
185.
(1) Whenever an officer in charge of a police station or a police officer making an investigation has reasonable grounds for believing that anything necessary for the purposes of an investigation into any offence which he is authorised to investigate may be found in any place within the limits of the police station of which he is in charge, or to which he is attached, and that such thing cannot in his opinion be otherwise obtained without undue delay, such officer may, after recording in writing the grounds of his belief in the case-diary and specifying in such writing, so far as possible, the thing for which search is to be made, search, or cause search to be made, for such thing in any place within the limits of such station.
(2) A police officer proceeding under sub-section (1), shall, if practicable, conduct the search in person: Provided that the search conducted under this section shall be recorded through audio-video electronic means preferably by mobile phone.
(3) If he is unable to conduct the search in person, and there is no other person competent to make the search present at the time, he may, after recording in writing his reasons for so doing, require any officer subordinate to him to make the search, and he shall deliver to such subordinate officer an order in writing, specifying the place to be searched, and so far as possible, the thing for which search is to be made; and such subordinate officer may thereupon search for such thing in such place. Search by police officer.
(4) The provisions of this Sanhita as to search-warrants and the general provisions as to searches contained in section 103 shall, so far as may be, apply to a search made under this section.
(5) Copies of any record made under sub-section
(1) or sub-section
(3) shall forthwith, but not later than forty-eight hours, be sent to the nearest Magistrate empowered to take cognizance of the offence, and the owner or occupier of the place searched shall, on application, be furnished, free of cost, with a copy of the same by the Magistrate.
What changedAI-inferred
Search by police officer.
Old position
CrPC 165 is concerned with Search by police officer. Search by police officer
New position
BNSS 185 preserves the framework with drafting modernisations as required by the new code. Topic: Search by Sec.1] this section.. Whenever an officer in charge of a police station or a police officer making an investigation has reasonable grounds for believing that anything necessary for the purposes of an investigation into any offence which he is authorised to
BNSS 185 (Search by Sec.1] this section.) preserves the framework of CrPC 165. BNSS 185 retains the operative provisions in substantively the same form, with drafting modernisation and structural updates as required by the new code. BNSS 185 text: Whenever an officer in charge of a police...
Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)
BNSS 185 (Search by Sec.1] this section.) preserves the framework of CrPC 165. BNSS 185 retains the operative provisions in substantively the same form, with drafting modernisation and structural updates as required by the new code.
BNSS 185 text: Whenever an officer in charge of a police station or a police officer making an investigation has reasonable grounds for believing that anything necessary for the purposes of an investigation into any offence which he is authorised to investigate may be found in any place within the limits of the police station of...
Transitional note (repeal & savings)
For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, CrPC 165 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNSS 185 applies. The transition is governed by the repeal-and-savings clause in the new code (BNS 358 / BNSS 531 / BSA 170 as the case may be); pending proceedings under the old code carry forward unaffected.
Frequently asked
BNSS 185 (Search by Sec.1] this section.). The relationship is classified as substantively_same — see the change-note above for the textual delta.
Government source
The statutory text above is compiled from the Act as published by the Government of India. The links open the full Act; use the PDF's search to find the section number. The linked government pages offer no link to a single section.
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · §185
View government sourcemha.gov.in(opens the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 PDF on mha.gov.in in a new tab)Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · PDF
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · §165
View government sourcemha.gov.in(opens the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 PDF on mha.gov.in in a new tab)Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · PDF
Newlaws.in is an independent site, not a government body. The mappings and notes on this page are its own AI-assisted comparison and are not published or endorsed by any government body.
Sources
- India Code — Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
- Gazette of India — Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Cite this page
Newlaws.in, CRPC §165 → BNSS §185 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-10-29, https://newlaws.in/bnss/185.
Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01
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