🔹Section 173 – Charge Sheet Submission (CrPC, 1973)
🔹Short Note (Hindi):
Section 173 kehta hai ki jab police investigation complete kar leti hai, to usse final report (charge sheet) court me submit karni hoti hai.
Is report me likha hota hai ki kisne crime kiya, kya evidence mila, aur case file karne layak hai ya nahi.
🔹Full Description (English + Hindi):
🔹 Meaning:
Section 173 CrPC deals with the completion of investigation and submission of a police report (charge sheet) to the Magistrate.
Yaani jab investigation khatam ho jata hai, to police apni puri report court me deti hai, jisse court decide karti hai ki trial start karna hai ya nahi.
🔹 Purpose of Section 173:
- To ensure transparency between police investigation and court.
- To allow the Magistrate to examine evidence before taking cognizance.
- To prevent unnecessary delay in trials.
🔹 Key Provisions under Section 173:
1. Section 173(1) – Completion of Investigation:
- Investigation as soon as possible complete karni hoti hai.
- Delay avoid karna police ki duty hai.
2. Section 173(2) – Police Report (Charge Sheet):
Police report me likha hota hai –
- Case details: Crime number, sections applied, place, and date of offence.
- Accused details: Name, address, occupation, age.
- Witness list: Jo log incident ke witness hain.
- Evidence: Documents, statements, medical reports, etc.
- Result: Kya offence prove hua ya nahi.
🔹Agar offence prove hota hai → Charge Sheet
🔹Agar offence prove nahi hota → Final Report / Closure Report
3. Section 173(5) – Documents to be forwarded:
Police ko saare statements (Sec 161 CrPC) aur documents (FIR, seizure reports, etc.) court me submit karne hote hain.
4. Section 173(8) – Further Investigation:
Agar baad me naye evidence milte hain, to police further investigation kar sakti hai aur supplementary charge sheet file kar sakti hai — bina court ki permission ke, but court ko inform karna zaruri hai.
🔹 Time Limit for Charge Sheet Submission:
| Offence Type | Maximum Time for Submission |
|---|---|
| Offence punishable ≤ 10 years | 60 days |
| Offence punishable > 10 years, life imprisonment, or death | 90 days |
Agar police is time me charge sheet file nahi karti, to accused ko bail mil sakti hai (Default Bail – Sec 167(2) CrPC).
🔹 Difference between Charge Sheet & Final Report:
| Basis | Charge Sheet | Final Report |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Offence proved after investigation | Offence not proved |
| Purpose | To start trial | To close case |
| Filed When | Sufficient evidence found | No evidence found |
| Result | Trial begins | Case closed (unless court orders reinvestigation) |
🔹 Important Case Laws:
- CBI vs. Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar (1997):
Court ne kaha – Supplementary charge sheet file karna valid hai if new facts emerge. - Satya Narain Musadi vs. State of Bihar (1980):
Charge sheet ek conclusive report hai jisme investigation ka complete result hota hai. - Vinay Tyagi vs. Irshad Ali (2013):
Court ne clarify kiya ki further investigation allowed hai even after first charge sheet.
🔹 Example:
Police ne murder case me 3 logon par investigation ki.
Sabut milne ke baad, police ne Section 173 ke under charge sheet file ki court me – jisme likha gaya ki A, B, C ne mil kar crime kiya.
Court ne report accept karke trial start kar diya.
🔹Summary Table:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Section | 173 CrPC |
| Subject | Submission of Charge Sheet / Final Report |
| Filed By | Investigating Police Officer |
| Filed To | Magistrate having jurisdiction |
| Time Limit | 60–90 days depending on offence |
| Follow-up | Court may take cognizance or order further investigation |
| Type of Report | Charge Sheet or Final Report |
🔹Nyay Neeti Advice:
- Always ask for a copy of charge sheet if you are the complainant or accused.
- Agar police charge sheet file nahi kar rahi time se, to court me application de sakte ho.
- False or incomplete charge sheet ke against Magistrate ke paas remedy available hai.
- Charge sheet file hone ke baad trial officially start hota hai.
