BNSS Section 186 — When officer in charge of police station may require another to issue search-warrant

Summary

An officer in charge of a police station, or a sub-inspector or higher rank conducting an investigation, can ask an officer in charge of another police station (in the same or a different district) to carry out a search in any place where the first officer could have ordered a search within their own station. The officer who receives this request must follow the procedure for searches and send any items found to the officer who asked for the search. If there is reason to believe that waiting for the other station to act could lead to evidence being hidden or destroyed, the investigating officer can directly search any place in the other station’s area as if it were in their own area. After such a direct search, the officer must immediately notify the local station in charge, send them a copy of any list of items seized, and also send copies of the search records to the nearest Magistrate who can handle the case. The owner or occupier of the searched place can get a free copy of any record sent to the Magistrate.

Official Text

(1) An officer in charge of a police station or a police officer not being below the rank of sub-inspector making an investigation may require an officer in charge of another police station, whether in the same or a different district, to cause a search to be made in any place, in any case in which the former officer might cause such search to be made, within the limits of his own station.

(2) Such officer, on being so required, shall proceed according to the provisions of section 185, and shall forward the thing found, if any, to the officer at whose request the search was made.

(3) Whenever there is reason to believe that the delay occasioned by requiring an officer in charge of another police station to cause a search to be made under sub-section (1) might result in evidence of the commission of an offence being concealed or destroyed, it shall be lawful for an officer in charge of a police station or a police officer making any investigation under this Chapter to search, or cause to be searched, any place in the limits of another police station in accordance with the provisions of section 185, as if such place were within the limits of his own police station.

(4) Any officer conducting a search under sub-section (3) shall forthwith send notice of the search to the officer in charge of the police station within the limits of which such place is situate, and shall also send with such notice a copy of the list (if any) prepared under section 103, and shall also send to the nearest Magistrate empowered to take cognizance of the offence, copies of the records referred to in sub-sections

(1) and

(3) of section 185.

(5) The owner or occupier of the place searched shall, on application, be furnished free of cost with a copy of any record sent to the Magistrate under sub-section (4).

Related Judgments

• SC (2025) Vol.6 p.545 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.5 p.730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.2 p.424 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.7 p.979 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.2 p.1588 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• .. Petitioner/Accused No.12 vs The State of Tamilnadu, — Madras High Court ()

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• CrPC §166 — When officer in charge of police station may require another to issue search-warrant