CrPC Section 457 — Procedure by police upon seizure of property

Official Text

(1) Whenever the seizure of property by any police officer is reported to a Magistrate under the provisions of this Code, and such property is not produced before a Criminal Court during an inquiry or trial, the Magistrate may make such order as he thinks fit respecting the disposal of such property or the delivery of such property to the person entitled to the possession thereof, or if such person cannot be ascertained, respecting the custody and production of such property.

(2) If the person so entitled is known, the Magistrate may order the property to be delivered to him on such conditions (if any) as the Magistrate thinks fit and if such person is unknown, the Magistrate may detain it and shall, in such case, issue a proclamation specifying the articles of which such property consists, and requiring any person who may have a claim thereto, to appear before him and establish his claim within six months from the date of such proclamation.

Referred to by

• CrPC §39 — Public to give information of certain offences
• CrPC §102 — Power of police officer to seize certain property
• CrPC §452 — Order for disposal of property at conclusion of trial
• CrPC §459 — Power to sell perishable property

Related Judgments

• RAM PARKASH SHARMA vs STATE OF HARYANA — Supreme Court of India (1978)
• BISHWAJIT DEY vs THE STATE OF ASSAM — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• Saraswati Bhawan Education Society vs The State of Maharashtra — Bombay High Court (Mumbai Principal Seat) (2023)
• KATHYAYINI vs SIDHARTH P.S. REDDY & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• NEVADA PROPERTIES PRIVATE LIMITED THROUGH ITS DIRECTOR vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANR — Supreme Court of India (2019)
• NKGSB Co-operative Bank Ltd.; thro. Vinita Naresh Engineer vs State of Maharashtra and Ors — Bombay High Court (Mumbai Principal Seat) (2024)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNSS §503 — Procedure by police upon seizure of property