Power of police officer to seize certain property.

What this section does

Any police officer may seize property alleged or suspected to have been stolen or found in circumstances suggesting commission of an offence, and must forthwith report the seizure to the Magistrate having jurisdiction. Where the property cannot be conveniently transported, lacks proper custody accommodation, or continued police custody is unnecessary for investigation, the officer may release it to a person on a bond to produce it before the Court. Perishable property worth less than five hundred rupees with an unknown or absent owner may be sold by auction under orders of the Superintendent of Police.

AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).

Procedure at a glance

Key actors

Police officer · Officer in charge of police station · Magistrate · Superintendent of Police · Custodian on bond

Time limit

Report to Magistrate must be made 'forthwith'

Derived from CrPC s.102.