Under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), what is the maximum period for which a person can be held in police custody in t…

Question

Under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), what is the maximum period for which a person can be held in police custody in total, even if remanded periodically by a magistrate?

1. A. 30 days
2. B. 60 days
3. C. 90 days
4. D. 15 days (for initial remand, extendable) (Correct answer)

Correct Answer

Option D — 15 days (for initial remand, extendable)

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is 15 days (for initial remand, extendable).

Key Points

• Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), a magistrate may authorise police custody of up to 15 days.
• The 15 days is the ceiling on police custody itself; detention beyond that continues as judicial custody, not police custody.

Additional Information

• Total detention pending investigation is capped at 90 days for offences punishable with death, life imprisonment or at least ten years, and 60 days otherwise — after which the accused is entitled to default bail.
• The BNSS replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 from 1 July 2024, alongside the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (replacing the IPC) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (replacing the Evidence Act).
• Article 22 of the Constitution requires production before a magistrate within 24 hours of arrest, excluding travel time.

प्रश्न (हिन्दी में)

भारतीय नागरिक सुरक्षा संहिता (BNSS) के तहत, किसी व्यक्ति को पुलिस हिरासत में रखने की कुल अधिकतम अवधि क्या है, भले ही उसे मजिस्ट्रेट द्वारा समय-समय पर रिमांड पर लिया जाए?

1. A. 30 दिन
2. B. 60 दिन
3. C. 90 दिन
4. D. 15 दिन (प्रारंभिक रिमांड के लिए, विस्तार योग्य)