(Prayer: Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of BNSS, 2023, to direct the second respondent to file a charge sheet in Crime No.191 of 2024 on the file of the second respondent within the time stipulated as fixed by this Court.)

Preface:

1. The advent of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 marks a constitutional transformation in India’s criminal jurisprudence. For the first time since Independence, the criminal process has been consciously re-engineered to be victim-centric, citizen-responsive and justice-oriented, in contrast to the colonial enactments which were historically designed to subserve the interests of an imperial administration and to control its subjects.

2. The new Codes emphasise timeliness, transparency, accountability, and proportionality, recognising delay as a denial of justice. In particular, the BNSS, 2023, by codifying strict timelines for investigation in Section 193, ensures that the investigating agency cannot indefinitely keep the sword of uncertainty hanging over the head of an accused or allow victims to languish without closure. It is in this mandate of constitutional justice that the present petition deserves to be examined.

3. This Criminal Original Petition has been filed under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking a direction to the second respondent to file a final report with respect to the Crime No.191 of 2024.

Submissions:

4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that though the FIR was registered on 30.03.2024, no final report has been filed till date. Such delay is contrary to the statutory mandate under Section 193 BNSS, which prescribes time-bound investigation. It is therefore prayed that necessary directions be issued.

5. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. side) submits that the investigation is in progress and the investigating officer shall abide by any timeline fixed by this Court.

6. Heard the learned counsels on either side and carefully perused the materials available on record.

Analysis:

7. The BNSS has introduced a strict regime of time-bound investigation, which reads as follows:

                   (i) Section 193(1) BNSS mandates that every investigation under this Sanhita shall be completed without unnecessary delay. (ii) Section 193(2) BNSS mandates that in relation to offences punishable with imprisonment of seven years or more, the investigation shall ordinarily be completed within ninety days; and in all other offences, within sixty days. (iii) Section 193(3) BNSS, mandates that if the investigation is not completed within the period prescribed, the investigating officer shall record the reasons in writing and intimate the Magistrate of such delay.

8. The statute therefore creates (i) a positive duty to complete investigation promptly; (ii) outer time limits; and (iii) a compulsory accountability mechanism for delay. These provisions are mandatory in nature and bind the investigating agency.

9. The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner had taken the property belonging to one Mathukannan on rent for the purpose of running a clinic. Subsequently, due to certain inconvenience, the petitioner vacated the said property and handed over the keys to the said Mathukannan. However, the said Mathukannan failed to repay the advance amount paid by the petitioner. When the petitioner questioned the same, the accused persons abused the petitioner in filthy language and also criminally intimidated him. Hence, the petitioner lodged a complaint before the respondent police, and an FIR in Crime No.191 of 2024 was registered for the offences under Sections 294(b) and 506(1) of the Indian Penal Code. Thereafter, no further steps were taken to file the final report. Hence, the present petition.

10. This Court notes that the FIR in the present case was registered on 30.03.2024 and the investigation has not culminated in a final report even after the lapse of the period contemplated under Section 193(2) BNSS. No material is placed before this Court to show that the reasons for delay were recorded in writing or that the same was intimated to the jurisdictional Magistrate as required under Section 193(3) BNSS.

11. Such unexplained delay defeats the very purpose of the reformed statutory architecture, which mandates expeditious investigation so that the criminal process becomes an instrument of justice rather than a prolonged ordeal.

12. Accordingly, this Court is inclined to issue appropriate directions.

13. In the light of the above statutory mandate and taking into account the facts and submissions, the following directions are issued:

                   (i) The second respondent police is directed to complete the investigation in Crime No.191 of 2024 and file a final report before the jurisdictional Court within a period of eight (8) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

                   (ii) If for any legally acceptable reason the investigation cannot be completed within the above period, the investigating officer shall strictly comply with Section 193(3) BNSS by recording reasons in writing and placing the same before the jurisdictional Magistrate without fail.

                   (iii) The petitioner is at liberty to work out his remedies in accordance with law if the above directions are not complied with.

Epilogue:

14. The BNSS, 2023 embodies a shift from a punitive colonial framework to a justice-centric democratic framework. Timely investigation is the first guarantee of fairness to both victim and accused. This Court expects diligent adherence to statutory timelines by the investigating agency.

15. The Criminal Original Petition is accordingly disposed of with the above directions.