✓ Substantially Identical

Law Transition Comparison: Section 97 BNSS vs Section 94 CrPC

Side-by-side analysis of statutory changes, penal differences, bailable classification, trial courts, and precedents following India's July 2024 criminal law transition.

AI Legal Analysis & Key Differences

No material statutory changes have been made to the core text of this provision during the transition. The wording, elements, and thresholds remain substantially identical. However, practitioners must adapt to the new section numbering and procedural alignment under the 2023 Sanhitas.

Transition Checklist for Legal Practitioners

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Verify Date of Offense (Crucial for Application)

If the alleged offense occurred before July 1, 2024, substantive charges must be filed under the old act (CrPC). For offenses on or after July 1, 2024, use the new Sanhita (BNSS).

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Nomenclature Audit in Pleadings

Ensure all draft petitions, FIRs, charge sheets, and bail applications refer to Section 97 of the BNSS instead of the old Section 94 of the CrPC.

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Confirm Savings Clause Compliance

Apply the savings clause (Section 531 BNSS or Section 358 BNS) to confirm that any trials, appeals, or investigations pending as of July 1, 2024 continue under the old code (CrPC) as if the new Sanhitas had not been enacted.

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Review Updated Bail and Trial Jurisdiction

Double-check the schedule in BNSS or CrPC to verify if the trial court jurisdiction (e.g. Session Court vs Magistrate) or the bailable status has been altered for Section 97.

Act Source (Active Site)

Section 97

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita

Official Statutory Text

(1) If a District Magistrate, Sub-divisional Magistrate or Magistrate of the first class, upon information and after such inquiry as he thinks necessary, has reason to believe that any place is used for the deposit or sale of stolen property, or for the deposit, sale or production of any objectionable article to which this section applies, or that any such objectionable article is deposited in any place, he may by warrant authorise any police officer above the rank of a constable— (a) to enter, with such assistance as may be required, such place; (b) to search the same in the manner specified in the warrant; (c) to take possession of any property or article therein found which he reasonably suspects to be stolen property or objectionable article to which this section applies; (d) to convey such property or article before a Magistrate, or to guard the same on the spot until the offender is taken before a Magistrate, or otherwise to dispose of it in some place of safety; (e) to take into custody and carry before a Magistrate every person found in such place who appears to have been privy to the deposit, sale or production of any such property or article knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect it to be stolen property or, as the case may be, objectionable article to which this section applies. (2) The objectionable articles to which this section applies are— (a) counterfeit coin; (b) pieces of metal made in contravention of the Coinage Act, 2011 (11 of 2011), or brought into India in contravention of any notification for the time being in force issued under section 11 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962); (c) counterfeit currency note; counterfeit stamps; (d) forged documents; (e) false seals; (f) obscene objects referred to in section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023); (g) instruments or materials used for the production of any of the articles mentioned in clauses (a) to (f).

Procedural Profile

Offence Category	N/A / Procedural
Bail Eligibility	Procedural
Arrest Classification	Procedural
Trial Court	Procedural
Max Punishment	Procedural

Act Source (Compared)

Section 94

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Official Statutory Text

If a District Magistrate, Sub-divisional Magistrate or Magistrate of the first class, upon information and after such inquiry as he thinks necessary, has reason to believe that any place is used for the deposit or sale of stolen property, or for the deposit, sale or production of any objectionable article to which this section applies, or that any such objectionable article is deposited in any place, he may by warrant authorise any police officer above the rank of a constable—
		
			to enter, with such assistance as may be required, such place,
			to search the same in the manner specified in the warrant,
			to take possession of any property or article therein found which he reasonably suspects to be stolen property or objectionable article to which this section applies,
			to convey such property or article before a Magistrate, or to guard the same on the spot until the offender is taken before a Magistrate, or otherwise to dispose of it in some place of safely,
			to take into custody and carry before a Magistrate every person found in such place who appears to have been privy to the deposit, sale or production of any such property or article knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect it to be stolen property or, as the case may be, objectionable article to which this section applies.
		
		The objectionable articles to which this section applies are—
		
			counterfeit coin;
			pieces of metal made in contravention of the Metal Tokens Act, 1889 (1 of 1889), or brought into India in contravention of any notification for the time being in force under section 11 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962);
			counterfeit currency note; counterfeit stamps;
			forged documents;
			false seals;
			obscene objects referred to in section 292 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860);
			instruments or materials used for the production of any of the articles mentioned in clauses (a) to (f).

Procedural Profile

Offence Category	N/A / Procedural
Bail Eligibility	Procedural
Arrest Classification	Procedural
Trial Court	Procedural
Max Punishment	Procedural

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