157. Procedure where cognizable offence suspected.__(1) If, from information received or otherwise,
an officer in charge of a policestation has reason to suspect the commission of an offence which he is
empowered under section 156 to investigate, he shall forthwith send a report of the same to a Magistrate
empowered to take cognizance of such offence upon a policereport, and shall proceed in person, or shall
depute one of his subordinate officers 1[not being below such rank as the 2[Provincial Government] may, by
general or special order, prescribe in this behalf] to proceed, to the spot, to investigate the facts and
circumstances of the case, 3[and, if necessary, to take measures] for the discovery and arrest of the offender:
Provided as follows :
(a) Where local investigation dispensed with. when any information as to the commission of any
such offence is given against any person by name and the case is not of a serious nature, the
officer in charge of a policestation need not proceed in person or depute a subordinate officer
to make an investigation on the spot;
(b) Where policeofficer in charge sees no sufficient ground for investigation. if it appears to the
officer in charge of a policestation that there is no sufficient ground for entering on an
investigation, he shall not investigate the case.
(2) In each of the cases mentioned in clauses (a) and (b) of the proviso to subsection (1), the officer in
charge of the policestation shall state in his said report his reasons for not fully complying with the
requirements of that subsection, 4[and, in the case mentioned in clause (b), such officer shall also forthwith
notify to the informant, if any, in such manner as may be prescribed by the 5[Provincial Government], the
fact that he will not investigate the case or cause it to be investigated.]
158. Reports under section 157 how submitted.__ (1) Every report sent to a Magistrate under section
157 shall, if the 5[Provincial Government] so directs, be submitted through such superior officer of police as
the 2[Provincial Government], by general or special order, appoints in that behalf.
(2) Such superior officer may give such instructions to the officer in charge of the policestation as he
thinks fit, and shall, after recording such instructions on such report, transmit the same without delay to the
Magistrate.
159. Power to hold investigation of preliminary inquiry. Such Magistrate, on receiving such report,
may direct an investigation or, if he thinks fit, at once proceed, or depute any Magistrate subordinate to him
to proceed, to hold a preliminary inquiry into, or otherwise to dispose of, the case in manner provided in this
Code.
160. Policeofficer's power to require attendance of witnesses. Any policeofficer making an
investigation under this Chapter may, by order in writing, require the attendance before himself of any
person being within the limits of his own or any adjoining station who, from the information given or
otherwise, appears to be acquainted with the circumstances of the case; and such person shall attend as so
required.
1 Ins. by the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amdt.) Act, 1923 (18 of 1923), s. 32.
2 Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “L.G”.
3 Subs. by Act 18 of 1923, s. 32, for “and to take such measures as may be necessary”.
4 Ins. by the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amdt.) Act, 1923 (18 of 1923). S. 32.
5 Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “L.G”.
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