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What Procedures are to be Followed During a Search by the Police?

August 5, 2014

The Police are responsible for the safety of our society and in order to keep us safe, they are allowed to perform various activities such as searches and seizures.

While such acts are always to be carried out for the greater good, there are certain regulations and procedures to be followed by the Police during a search. These include:

  1. Any officer, who is in charge of a police station, has the authority to conduct a search of any place situated within the jurisdiction of his police station for anything connected with an offence.
  2. It is necessary that the police officers concerned should show their identity cards before conducting search. Similarly, their nameplates, along with their designations should also be displayed on their uniforms.
  3. You are within your right to check and search the raiding party before they begina search.
  4. While conducting a search, two respectable witnesses should remain present.
  5. After the completion of a search, the officer concerned must prepare a search panchanama detailing therein the particulars of the seized articles and obtain there upon the signatures of the two witnesses and the owner. The panchanama must be prepared at the site itself.
  6. Demand a copy of the panchanama. It is your right.
  7. The procedure is applicable for a physical search also.
  8. It is essential that a panchanama, in respect of an arrest, search, seizure etc. should always be made at the site of the occurrence of the accident or offence and the signatures of the witnesses should be obtained thereon.

 

Source: This information was obtained from the website of the Mumbai Police – https://mumbaipolice.maharashtra.gov.in/

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