{"id":29516,"date":"2026-08-11T06:00:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T06:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/?p=29516"},"modified":"2026-08-11T06:32:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T06:32:10","slug":"investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/","title":{"rendered":"Investigation and Inquiry under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS): Distinction, Procedure and Judicial Principles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 id=\"h-introduction\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction\"><\/span>Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the criminal justice process under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), the distinction between investigation and inquiry is crucial: investigation, conducted by the police or an authorised person, is an executive fact-finding mission aimed at collecting evidence and identifying offenders, while inquiry, carried out by a Magistrate or Court, is a judicial scrutiny that evaluates whether sufficient grounds exist to proceed with trial; together, these stages ensure that raw facts gathered during investigation are subjected to judicial oversight through inquiry, thereby maintaining a balance between effective prosecution and the protection of individual liberty.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#Introduction\" >Introduction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#Investigation_The_Fact-Finding_Mission\" >Investigation: The Fact-Finding Mission<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#Objective_of_Investigation\" >Objective of Investigation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#Example_of_Investigation\" >Example of Investigation<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#Inquiry_The_Judicial_Scrutiny\" >Inquiry: The Judicial Scrutiny<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#Objective_of_Inquiry\" >Objective of Inquiry<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#Example_of_Inquiry\" >Example of Inquiry<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#Magistrates_Power_to_Order_Investigation\" >Magistrate&#8217;s Power to Order Investigation<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#Investigation_and_Inquiry_Key_Difference\" >Investigation and Inquiry: Key Difference<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#Key_Differences_Between_Investigation_and_Inquiry\" >Key Differences Between Investigation and Inquiry<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#5_Case_Laws\" >5. Case Laws<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#HN_Rishbud_v_State_of_Delhi\" >H.N. Rishbud v. State of Delhi<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#State_of_Bihar_v_Ram_Naresh_Pandey\" >State of Bihar v. Ram Naresh Pandey<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#Lalita_Kumari_v_Government_of_Uttar_Pradesh\" >Lalita Kumari v. Government of Uttar Pradesh<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#Amrutbhai_Shambhubhai_Patel_v_Sumanbhai_Kantibhai_Patel\" >Amrutbhai Shambhubhai Patel v. Sumanbhai Kantibhai Patel<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#Satender_Kumar_Antil_v_CBI\" >Satender Kumar Antil v. CBI<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#6_Police_Enquiry\" >6. Police Enquiry<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#Examples_of_Police_Enquiry\" >Examples of Police Enquiry<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/#7_Conclusion\" >7. Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-investigation-the-fact-finding-mission\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Investigation_The_Fact-Finding_Mission\"><\/span>Investigation: The Fact-Finding Mission<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Investigation is the initial stage of a criminal case, primarily focused on the systematic collection of evidence. As defined under Section 2(1)(l) BNSS, it is an executive process conducted by a police officer or any other person authorised by a Magistrate (but never by a Magistrate themselves). The primary objective is to gather all relevant material facts and evidence to determine whether a crime was committed and, if so, to identify the person(s) responsible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-objective-of-investigation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Objective_of_Investigation\"><\/span>Objective of Investigation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To gather all relevant material facts and evidence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To determine whether a crime was committed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To identify the person(s) responsible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To systematically collect evidence during the initial stage of a criminal case.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-example-of-investigation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Example_of_Investigation\"><\/span>Example of Investigation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Example: In a burglary case, the police reach the scene, secure the area, lift fingerprints, record witness statements, trace stolen items, and conduct forensic analysis. The stage ends with the submission of the Police Report (Charge Sheet) under Section 193 BNSS to the Magistrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-inquiry-the-judicial-scrutiny\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Inquiry_The_Judicial_Scrutiny\"><\/span>Inquiry: The Judicial Scrutiny<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inquiry begins after the investigation and acts as a bridge between the police report and the trial. Defined under Section 2(1)(k) BNSS, an \u201cinquiry\u201d means every inquiry, other than a trial, conducted under this Sanhita by a Magistrate or Court. It is a judicial proceeding aimed at determining whether there is a prima facie case against the accused, i.e., whether the allegations appear true on the face of the evidence. Its purpose is not to convict but to prevent frivolous or baseless cases from proceeding to full trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-objective-of-inquiry\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Objective_of_Inquiry\"><\/span>Objective of Inquiry<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To examine the material placed before the magistrate or court.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To determine whether there is a prima facie case against the accused.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To assess whether the allegations appear true on the face of the evidence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To prevent frivolous or baseless cases from proceeding to full trial.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To provide judicial scrutiny before the criminal case proceeds further.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-example-of-inquiry\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Example_of_Inquiry\"><\/span>Example of Inquiry<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Example: After receiving the charge sheet in a murder case, the Magistrate examines the evidence and documents to decide whether to frame charges, commit the case to Sessions Court, or discharge the accused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-magistrate-s-power-to-order-investigation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Magistrates_Power_to_Order_Investigation\"><\/span>Magistrate&#8217;s Power to Order Investigation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Note: A Magistrate may also order investigation under Section 175(3) BNSS (corresponding to old Section 156(3) CrPC) on a complaint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-investigation-and-inquiry-key-difference\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Investigation_and_Inquiry_Key_Difference\"><\/span>Investigation and Inquiry: Key Difference<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Aspect<\/th><th>Investigation<\/th><th>Inquiry<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Nature<\/td><td>Executive fact-finding process<\/td><td>Judicial scrutiny<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Primarily Conducted By<\/td><td>Police officer or authorised person<\/td><td>Magistrate or Court<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Primary Purpose<\/td><td>Collection of facts and evidence and identification of offenders<\/td><td>Determining whether sufficient grounds exist to proceed<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Stage<\/td><td>Initial stage of a criminal case<\/td><td>Judicial stage between investigation and trial<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Result<\/td><td>Police Report (Charge Sheet)<\/td><td>Judicial determination regarding further proceedings<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-key-differences-between-investigation-and-inquiry\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Differences_Between_Investigation_and_Inquiry\"><\/span>Key Differences Between Investigation and Inquiry<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Sl. No.<\/th><th>Basis<\/th><th>Investigation<\/th><th>Inquiry<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1<\/td><td><strong>Definition (BNSS)<\/strong><\/td><td>Collection of evidence by police\/authorised person (Section 2(1)(l))<\/td><td>Judicial examination by magistrate\/court, other than a trial (Section 2(1)(k))<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2<\/td><td><strong>Conducted by<\/strong><\/td><td>Police or authorised person<\/td><td>Magistrate or Court<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3<\/td><td><strong>Nature<\/strong><\/td><td>Executive\/Administrative<\/td><td>Judicial<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4<\/td><td><strong>Purpose<\/strong><\/td><td>Discover facts and collect evidence.<\/td><td>Determine whether sufficient grounds exist to proceed with the trial.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5<\/td><td><strong>Stage in Proceedings<\/strong><\/td><td>Before judicial proceedings<\/td><td>After investigation, before trial<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6<\/td><td><strong>Scope<\/strong><\/td><td>Search, seizure, interrogation, forensic examination, etc.<\/td><td>Evaluation of evidence already collected<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7<\/td><td><strong>Commencement<\/strong><\/td><td>Investigation typically starts with registration of an FIR (Section 173 BNSS) for cognisable offences or a complaint for non-cognisable.<\/td><td>Begins when the magistrate examines case records\/evidence. Inquiry by Magistrate can start on a complaint (Section 223 BNSS) or after a police report.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8<\/td><td><strong>Outcome<\/strong><\/td><td>Police Report\/Charge Sheet (Section 193)<\/td><td>Discharge, framing of charge, committal, or other judicial order<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>9<\/td><td><strong>Control<\/strong><\/td><td>Police hierarchy<\/td><td>Judicial discretion<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10<\/td><td><strong>Evidence Handling<\/strong><\/td><td>Collection and preservation of evidence<\/td><td>Assessment of admissibility and sufficiency of evidence<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>11<\/td><td><strong>Examples<\/strong><\/td><td>Recording witness statements, conducting searches, forensic analysis<\/td><td>Committal proceedings, an inquiry into the offence before trial<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>12<\/td><td><strong>Legal Character<\/strong><\/td><td>Fact-finding, non-judicial<\/td><td>Judicial determination, quasi-judicial<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>13<\/td><td><strong>Rights of Accused<\/strong><\/td><td>Limited participation; the accused may be questioned.<\/td><td>The accused has the right to be heard before charges are framed.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>14<\/td><td><strong>Oath<\/strong><\/td><td>Statements are generally not taken on oath and are not substantive evidence.<\/td><td>The magistrate has the power to examine witnesses on oath.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>15<\/td><td><strong>End Result<\/strong><\/td><td>Leads to submission of police report in final form to magistrate<\/td><td>Leads to commencement or dismissal of trial<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-5-case-laws\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Case_Laws\"><\/span>5. Case Laws<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Supreme Court has consistently distinguished between <strong>investigation<\/strong> and <strong>inquiry<\/strong> in several landmark decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-h-n-rishbud-v-state-of-delhi\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"HN_Rishbud_v_State_of_Delhi\"><\/span>H.N. Rishbud v. State of Delhi<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <strong>H.N. Rishbud v. State of Delhi<\/strong> (AIR 1955 SC 196), the Court explained that investigation is a police function directed towards collecting evidence. It includes visiting the scene of occurrence, ascertaining facts, identifying and examining witnesses, conducting searches and seizures where necessary, and forming an opinion on whether an offence appears to have been committed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-state-of-bihar-v-ram-naresh-pandey\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"State_of_Bihar_v_Ram_Naresh_Pandey\"><\/span>State of Bihar v. Ram Naresh Pandey<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In contrast, <strong>State of Bihar v. Ram Naresh Pandey<\/strong> (AIR 1957 SC 389) held that an inquiry is a judicial proceeding conducted by a Magistrate or Court, other than a trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-lalita-kumari-v-government-of-uttar-pradesh\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lalita_Kumari_v_Government_of_Uttar_Pradesh\"><\/span>Lalita Kumari v. Government of Uttar Pradesh<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <strong>Lalita Kumari v. Government of Uttar Pradesh<\/strong> ((2014) 2 SCC 1), the Court clarified that a preliminary enquiry by the police is permissible only in limited categories of cases to ascertain whether a cognizable offence is disclosed. It cannot replace the mandatory registration of an FIR where such an offence is evident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-amrutbhai-shambhubhai-patel-v-sumanbhai-kantibhai-patel\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Amrutbhai_Shambhubhai_Patel_v_Sumanbhai_Kantibhai_Patel\"><\/span>Amrutbhai Shambhubhai Patel v. Sumanbhai Kantibhai Patel<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Further, in <strong>Amrutbhai Shambhubhai Patel v. Sumanbhai Kantibhai Patel<\/strong> ((2017) 4 SCC 177), the Court observed that an inquiry under Section 202 of the CrPC (corresponding to Section 223 of the BNSS) is a judicial exercise undertaken to determine whether sufficient grounds exist for proceeding against the accused. It is distinct from a police investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-satender-kumar-antil-v-cbi\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Satender_Kumar_Antil_v_CBI\"><\/span>Satender Kumar Antil v. CBI<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <strong>Satender Kumar Antil v. CBI<\/strong> (2025), the Supreme Court, while primarily dealing with arrest procedures and bail under Section 35 of the BNSS, explicitly highlighted the difference between investigation, inquiry, and judicial proceedings as envisaged under the BNSS, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This observation reiterates the long-standing executive-judicial distinction \u2014 that investigation is an executive function carried out by the police for collection of evidence, whereas inquiry is a judicial process conducted by a Magistrate to scrutinise the evidence and determine whether a prima facie case exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Court made this clarification to emphasise the separation of powers and to ensure that the procedural safeguards under the new criminal law continue to respect this fundamental demarcation between police powers and judicial oversight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-6-police-enquiry\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Police_Enquiry\"><\/span>6. Police Enquiry<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A police enquiry is a preliminary, informal fact-finding exercise conducted by the police to verify the truth of a complaint or information before registering a formal FIR. It is not a term specifically defined under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and is different from a police investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike a formal investigation under Section 2(1)(l) BNSS, it is not a statutorily defined term. It involves basic enquiries such as speaking to the complainant and witnesses, inspecting the scene, or examining documents to determine whether a cognisable offence has been committed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-examples-of-police-enquiry\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Examples_of_Police_Enquiry\"><\/span>Examples of Police Enquiry<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For instance, in cases of a missing mobile phone, matrimonial disputes, medical negligence, or financial fraud, the police may first conduct such an enquiry to assess if the allegation merits registration of an FIR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a cognisable offence is disclosed, the police register the FIR under Section 173 BNSS and proceed with formal investigation. Otherwise, the matter may be closed without further action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-7-conclusion\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Conclusion\"><\/span>7. Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The distinction between &#8216;investigation&#8217; and &#8216;inquiry&#8217; is fundamental to the criminal justice system under the BNSS. Investigation is the police-driven \u201chunt\u201d for raw facts and evidence, while inquiry serves as a vital judicial filter to protect individuals from unwarranted prosecution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By separating the executive power of evidence collection from the judicial power of evaluation, the law maintains an essential system of checks and balances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Investigation builds the case; inquiry tests its strength.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This clear separation upholds both the state\u2019s duty to prosecute crime and the individual\u2019s right to liberty and fair process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-related-links yoast-seo-related-links\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/differences-between-police-investigation-and-police-enquiry\/\">Differences Between Police Investigation and Police Enquiry<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/section-173-bnss-preliminary-inquiry-before-fir-analysis\/\">A Critical Analysis of Provisions of Preliminary Enquiry Under Section 173(3) of BNSS<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/when-can-police-refuse-to-register-an-fir\/\">When Can Police Refuse to Register an FIR?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/differences-between-investigation-and-inquiry\/\">Differences Between Investigation and Inquiry<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/section-156-3-vs-section-202-crpc-ramdev-food-products-vs-state-of-gujarat\/\">Ramdev Food Products Vs. State of Gujarat: When Must a Magistrate Order Police Investigation Under Section 156(3) Instead of Section 202 CrPC?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction In the criminal justice process under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), the distinction between investigation and inquiry is crucial: investigation, conducted by the police or an authorised person, is an executive fact-finding mission aimed at collecting evidence and identifying offenders, while inquiry, carried out by a Magistrate or Court, is a judicial<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"two_page_speed":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[4798],"class_list":["post-29516","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-criminal-law","tag-criminal-law"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.2 (Yoast SEO v28.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Investigation and Inquiry under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS): Distinction, Procedure and Judicial Principles - Legal Service India - Articles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Investigation vs inquiry under BNSS 2023: Learn key differences, relevant sections, police powers, judicial scrutiny and Supreme Court case laws.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Investigation and Inquiry under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS): Distinction, Procedure and Judicial Principles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Investigation vs inquiry under BNSS 2023: Learn key differences, relevant sections, police powers, judicial scrutiny and Supreme Court case laws.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Legal Service India - Articles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/legalservicesind\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-08-11T06:00:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-11T06:32:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Md. 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He served in Barrackpore Police Commissionerate, holding the positions of DCP (Special Branch) and DCP (Traffic) for over 4 years. He was posted in the districts of Dakshin Dinajpur and Nadia as Additional SP. At the sub-divisional level, he has worked as SDPOs of Gangarampur, Raghunathpur and Kalna sub-divisions of West Bengal. His tenure as Special IG and subsequently as IGP of Correctional Services, West Bengal, for over 4 years, saw him deeply engaged in improving the prison and correctional system. He visited numerous correctional homes across West Bengal, interacting with inmates, both male and female, including children residing with their incarcerated mothers. His outreach extended to correctional homes in Assam, Bihar, and Tripura. This hands-on approach provided him with invaluable insights into the workings of prisons and the complexities of the prisoner psyche. Beyond his operational roles, Md. Imran Wahab possesses a strong academic background, holding B.Sc., M.A., L.L.B., and M.B.A. degrees. He has also completed Post Graduate Diplomas in Human Rights, Project Management, Corporate Management, Computer Application, Public Administration, Medical Law, Disaster Management, Fire Safety &amp; Hazards Management and Psychology. He has attended Indian government sponsored specialized training in police and management matters in SVPNPA, Hyderabad, IIM, Ahmedabad and Singapore. He is the author of the books 'Police Investigation &amp; Allied Matters' and 'Alternative Dispute Resolution: Evolving Trends and Innovations' demonstrating his commitment to knowledge sharing within the law enforcement field. As an observer for the Election Commission of India, he has gained firsthand experience in conducting assembly elections and bye-elections in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, Bihar, and Tripura (twice). This exposure has given him a deep understanding of election management and the Election Commission's operations. He has also served as Chairman and as a member of various recruitment boards for the selection of police personnel in Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police. Md. Imran Wahab's interests extend beyond law enforcement to include law, politics, international affairs, prison management, and business management. He has authored over 1000 articles on these diverse topics, reflecting his intellectual curiosity and desire to contribute to public discourse. He is also a research scholar in law and has contributed articles to the Indian Police Journal, National Crime Record Bureau Journal, SVP National Police Academy Journal, and International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research etc. Currently, he serves as IGP, Provisioning, West Bengal.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalserviceindia.com\\\/Legal-Articles\\\/author\\\/md-imranwahab\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Investigation and Inquiry under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS): Distinction, Procedure and Judicial Principles - Legal Service India - Articles","description":"Investigation vs inquiry under BNSS 2023: Learn key differences, relevant sections, police powers, judicial scrutiny and Supreme Court case laws.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Investigation and Inquiry under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS): Distinction, Procedure and Judicial Principles","og_description":"Investigation vs inquiry under BNSS 2023: Learn key differences, relevant sections, police powers, judicial scrutiny and Supreme Court case laws.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/investigation-and-inquiry-under-the-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-2023-bnss-distinction-procedure-and-judicial-principles\/","og_site_name":"Legal Service India - Articles","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/legalservicesind","article_published_time":"2026-08-11T06:00:36+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-11T06:32:10+00:00","author":"Md. 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Imran Wahab","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/49\/1777837060-bpfull.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/49\/1777837060-bpfull.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/avatars\/49\/1777837060-bpfull.jpg","caption":"Md. Imran Wahab"},"description":"Md. Imran Wahab, a distinguished 2004-batch Indian Police Service officer, has dedicated over 32 years to public service, holding various senior managerial positions within the West Bengal Police force. His career has spanned diverse roles across different districts, including Kolkata Police, serving as DCP, 5th Battalion, Kolkata Armed Police and DCP (Port Division), for approximately 4 years. He served in Barrackpore Police Commissionerate, holding the positions of DCP (Special Branch) and DCP (Traffic) for over 4 years. He was posted in the districts of Dakshin Dinajpur and Nadia as Additional SP. At the sub-divisional level, he has worked as SDPOs of Gangarampur, Raghunathpur and Kalna sub-divisions of West Bengal. His tenure as Special IG and subsequently as IGP of Correctional Services, West Bengal, for over 4 years, saw him deeply engaged in improving the prison and correctional system. He visited numerous correctional homes across West Bengal, interacting with inmates, both male and female, including children residing with their incarcerated mothers. His outreach extended to correctional homes in Assam, Bihar, and Tripura. This hands-on approach provided him with invaluable insights into the workings of prisons and the complexities of the prisoner psyche. Beyond his operational roles, Md. Imran Wahab possesses a strong academic background, holding B.Sc., M.A., L.L.B., and M.B.A. degrees. He has also completed Post Graduate Diplomas in Human Rights, Project Management, Corporate Management, Computer Application, Public Administration, Medical Law, Disaster Management, Fire Safety &amp; Hazards Management and Psychology. He has attended Indian government sponsored specialized training in police and management matters in SVPNPA, Hyderabad, IIM, Ahmedabad and Singapore. He is the author of the books 'Police Investigation &amp; Allied Matters' and 'Alternative Dispute Resolution: Evolving Trends and Innovations' demonstrating his commitment to knowledge sharing within the law enforcement field. As an observer for the Election Commission of India, he has gained firsthand experience in conducting assembly elections and bye-elections in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, Bihar, and Tripura (twice). This exposure has given him a deep understanding of election management and the Election Commission's operations. He has also served as Chairman and as a member of various recruitment boards for the selection of police personnel in Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police. Md. Imran Wahab's interests extend beyond law enforcement to include law, politics, international affairs, prison management, and business management. He has authored over 1000 articles on these diverse topics, reflecting his intellectual curiosity and desire to contribute to public discourse. He is also a research scholar in law and has contributed articles to the Indian Police Journal, National Crime Record Bureau Journal, SVP National Police Academy Journal, and International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research etc. Currently, he serves as IGP, Provisioning, West Bengal.","url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/author\/md-imranwahab\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29516","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29516"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29516\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29846,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29516\/revisions\/29846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29516"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29516"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}