Know Your Rights During an Arrest

Read about arrest-related safeguards and access to legal assistance. Seek prompt professional help for a specific arrest or detention.

Prepare your records and choose the next resource

Useful records to organise for Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. These prompts are not a mandatory filing checklist.

The FIR or complaint acknowledgement, alleged sections and relevant police station.
Dates of arrest, production, remand orders and the next listed hearing, where applicable.
Copies of notices and orders; ask counsel to calculate any procedural deadline from the record.

At the time of arrest

Right to be informed of the grounds of arrest in a language you understand (Art. 22(1)).
Right to consult and be defended by a lawyer of your choice (Art. 22(1)).
Must be produced before a Magistrate within 24 hours excluding travel time (Sec. 58 BNSS).
Handcuffing is permitted only for repeat/serious offenders (Sec. 43(3) BNSS).
Police must inform a friend/family member and record the memo of arrest.

In custody and bail

BNSS Section 53 provides for medical examination soon after arrest and recording injuries; do not confuse this with the separate 24-hour production-before-Magistrate safeguard.
For offences under 7 years, arrest is NOT automatic — police must record reasons (Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar, 2014).
Right to apply for anticipatory bail (Sec. 482 BNSS) or regular bail before Magistrate/Sessions.
Free legal aid through NALSA (nalsa.gov.in) if you cannot afford a lawyer.

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Kanoon-AIPlatform publisher · AI-assisted contentMaterially updated: 2026-10-24Editorial policy

Source check scope: Added preparation prompts and related references; corrected selected English/Hindi timing or qualification claims. This is not complete statutory, translation or advocate review. Source/retrieval limitations are recorded in the implementation report.

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This page is general legal information and may be AI-assisted. Verify every provision against the linked primary source, and consult a qualified advocate before acting on your own matter.

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Correction history: See recorded changes below.

2026-10-24: Separated preparation from mandatory documents; corrected selected English/Hindi timing or qualification claims; added topic-related references.