CrPC Section 167 – Police Maximum Custody Limit

🔹Section 167 CrPC – Police Maximum Custody Limit (15 Days Magistrate, 60–90 Days Investigation)

🔹Short Note (Hindi):

Police kisi bhi arrested vyakti ko 24 ghante se zyada bina magistrate ke permission ke nahi rakh sakti.
Agar investigation 24 ghante me complete nahi hoti, to Section 167 CrPC ke tahat magistrate se permission lekar maximum 15 din tak custody mil sakti hai.
Agar case serious hai aur investigation zyada time le rahi hai, to magistrate 60 ya 90 din tak jail custody allow kar sakta hai.
Agar itne time me charge sheet file nahi hoti, to accused ko default bail mil jati hai.

🔹Full Description (English + Hindi):

🔹 What Section 167 CrPC Says:

“Whenever any person is arrested and detained in custody, and it appears that the investigation cannot be completed within 24 hours, the police shall transmit the accused to the nearest magistrate along with the case diary.”

Matlab agar investigation 24 ghante ke andar poori nahi hoti, to police ko accused ko magistrate ke samne pesh karna padta hai. Magistrate decide karta hai ki custody (jail ya police remand) kitni der ke liye deni chahiye.

🔹 Key Points of Section 167:

1. 24 Hours Rule:
   Police 24 ghante se zyada kisi bhi insaan ko bina court order ke nahi rakh sakti.
2. Magistrate Permission:
   Agar investigation complete nahi hui, to police ko magistrate se permission leni hoti hai aur magistrate maximum 15 din tak police custody de sakta hai.
3. Police Custody Limit:
   • Maximum 15 Days: Magistrate police remand sirf 15 din tak hi de sakta hai.
   • Uske baad accused ko judicial custody (jail) me bheja jata hai.
4. Investigation Period Limit:
   • 60 Days: Agar offence non-heinous hai (maximum punishment 10 saal tak).
   • 90 Days: Agar offence heinous hai (punishment 10 saal se zyada, life imprisonment, ya death penalty).
5. Default Bail (Statutory Bail):
   Agar police 60 ya 90 din me charge sheet file nahi karti, to accused ko automatic bail mil jati hai — ise default bail kehte hain.
6. Remand Types:
   • Police Custody: Investigation ke liye police ke paas rakha jata hai.
   • Judicial Custody: Jail me rakha jata hai, police ke paas nahi.
7. Judicial Oversight:
   Magistrate har stage par check karta hai ki custody ka misuse to nahi ho raha.

🔹 Example:

Amit par murder ka ilzaam tha. Police ne use arrest karke 24 ghante ke andar magistrate ke samne pesh kiya.
Magistrate ne 7 din ka police remand diya.
Investigation abhi complete nahi hui thi, isliye 15 din ke baad Amit ko judicial custody (jail) me bhej diya gaya.
Police 90 din ke andar charge sheet file nahi kar paayi, to Amit ko default bail mil gayi.

🔹 Important Court Judgment:

Uday Mohanlal Acharya vs State of Maharashtra (2001)
Supreme Court ne kaha – agar police charge sheet time par nahi deti (60 ya 90 din), to accused ka default bail ka right absolute hai.

🔹 Why This Section Is Important:

Section 167 CrPC accused ke fundamental rights ko protect karta hai taaki police apni power ka misuse na kare.
Ye ensure karta hai ki illegal detention na ho aur har arrest judicial control me rahe.

🔹Summary Table:

🔹Nyay Neeti Advice:

• Police agar aapko 24 ghante se zyada rakhe bina magistrate ke order ke, to ye illegal arrest hai.
• Default bail aapka legal right hai — agar police timely charge sheet file nahi karti.
• Har remand order me written magistrate approval zaruri hai.