BNSS Section 113 — Letter of request from a country or place outside India to a Court or an authority for investigation in India

CHAPTER VIII RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR ASSISTANCE IN CERTAIN MATTERS AND PROCEDURE FOR ATTACHMENT AND FORFEITURE OF PROPERTY

Criminal

Summary

If a court or authority in another country asks the Indian government for help investigating a crime—by questioning someone or getting documents or items—the Central Government can choose to send that request to a local magistrate. That magistrate will then call the person to give a statement or order the documents or items to be produced. Alternatively, the government can send the request to a police officer, who will investigate the case as if the crime happened in India. Any evidence collected by the magistrate or police officer is sent back to the Central Government, which then forwards it to the requesting country in whatever way it decides.

Official Text

(1) Upon receipt of a letter of request from a Court or an authority in a country or place outside India competent to issue such letter in that country or place for the examination of any person or production of any document or thing in relation to an offence under investigation in that country or place, the Central Government may, if it thinks fit—

(i) forward the same to the Chief Judicial Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate as he may appoint in this behalf, who shall thereupon summon the person before him and record his statement or cause the document or thing to be produced; or

(ii) send the letter to any police officer for investigation, who shall thereupon investigate into the offence in the same manner, as if the offence had been committed within India.

(2) All the evidence taken or collected under sub-section (1), or authenticated copies thereof or the thing so collected, shall be forwarded by the Magistrate or police officer, as the case may be, to the Central Government for transmission to the Court or the authority issuing the letter of request, in such manner as the Central Government may deem fit.

Related Judgments

  • SC (2025) Vol.5 p.730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.6 p.545 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2024) Vol.7 p.979 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
  • SC (2025) Vol.2 p.1588 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2024) Vol.12 p.335 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
  • .. Petitioner/Accused No.12 vs The State of Tamilnadu, — Madras High Court ()
  • SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

  • CrPC §166B — Letter of request from a country or place outside India to a Court or an authority for investigation in India