Library/BNSS/Section 61
Section 61Procedural

Power, on escape, to pursue and retake

Full Text

61. Power, on escape, to pursue and retake.—(1) If a person in lawful custody escapes or is rescued, the person from whose custody he escaped or was rescued may immediately pursue and arrest him in any place in India.

(2) The provisions of section 44 shall apply to arrests under sub-section (1) although the person making any such arrest is not acting under a warrant and is not a police officer having authority to arrest.

Plain English Summary

Provides authority to pursue and re-arrest any person who escapes or is rescued from lawful custody anywhere in India, including the right to search places.

Key Legal Elements

  • Immediate pursuit right after escape/rescue
  • Pan-India arrest authority
  • Search of place (Section 44) applies
  • Applicable to both police and private custodians

Practical Note

This section applies to any person (not just police) whose lawful custody the person was in; it essentially allows for immediate 'hot pursuit' across state borders within India.

हिंदी पाठ

61. भागने पर पीछा करने और पुनः गिरफ्तारी की शक्ति—(1) यदि कोई व्यक्ति विधिपूर्ण अभिरक्षा में से निकल भागता है या छुड़ा लिया जाता है, तो वह व्यक्ति, जिसकी अभिरक्षा से वह निकल भागा है या छुड़ाया गया है, उसका तुरंत पीछा कर सकता है और भारत के किसी स्थान में उसे गिरफ्तार कर सकता है।

(2) उप-धारा (1) के तहत गिरफ्तारी के लिए धारा 44 के प्रावधान लागू होंगे, भले ही गिरफ्तारी करने वाला व्यक्ति वारंट के अधीन कार्य नहीं कर रहा हो और गिरफ्तारी करने की शक्ति वाला पुलिस अधिकारी न हो।