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INVESTIGATION AND TRIAL OF OFFENCES. INVESTIGATION OF OFFENCES. Investigation. F.I.R- Information of the commission of cognizable offence given to the officer-in-charge of the police station having jurisdiction to investigate the offence.
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Investigation • F.I.R- Information of the commission of cognizable offence given to the officer-in-charge of the police station having jurisdiction to investigate the offence. • Officer-in-charge of the police station conducts investigation • Files police report or charge sheet along with statements recorded and evidence collected before the Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the case.
If no enough material is found to file a charge sheet against the accused, the officer has to send a report to that effect to the Magistrate and release the accused on bail. Information regarding non-cognizable offence, when given has to be entered in the station diary and informant referred to the Magistrate. Police officer has to maintain a case diary to record the progress of the case investigated by him on day-to-day basis.
If the police officer refuses to register a case, information can be sent to the Superintendent of Police in writing by post. Information regarding the commission of an offence may be given in the form of a complaint to the Magistrate, having jurisdiction to try the case.
Bail • Bail – Security for appearance before the court for trial or examination when required. • Bail mandatory in bailable offences. • Bail mandatory in nonbailable offences • When investigation is not completed within the stipulated period • When trial is not completed within the stipulated period • After trial, no ground to hold him guilty.
Bail – Discretionary in the other cases. • Factors to be taken into consideration: • Gravity of the charge • Nature of evidence against accusation • Danger of evidence being tampered • Likelihood of accused fleeing from justice • Opportunity to prepare defence • Health, age and sex of the accused.
Anticipatory Bail • Anticipatory bail – Person having reason to believe that he may be arrested for a nonbailable offence may apply to the High Court or Sessions court for anticipatory bail. • Factors to be taken into consideration: • Antecedents of the applicant, nature and gravity of accusation, possibility of fleeing from justice, whether accusation is made to humiliate the applicant.
Magistrate can take cognizance of a case • Upon a complaint • Upon a police report • Upon information given by any person other than a police report • Upon his own knowledge
Compelling appearance of person – processes • Summons, Warrant of arrest • Proclamation and Attachment of property • Compelling production of things –processes • Summons, Search with warrant • Search without warrant and Seizure
CONCEPT OF FAIR TRIAL • Adversary system of criminal trial • Presumption of innocence of the accused • Independent, impartial and competent judges to try the accused in open court • Venue of the trial • place where offence is committed • Right of the accused to know the accusation • Framing of charges
CONCEPT OF FAIR TRIAL • Right to be defended • Right to legal aid • Evidence to be taken in the presence of the accused • Right of cross-examination of prosecution witnesses • Right to produce evidence in his defence • Right to speedy trial
TRIAL OF OFFENCES FOUR types of trails • Trial by Court of Session • Trial of Warrant cases • Trial of Summons cases • Summary Trial
TRIAL - Court of Session • Cannot take cognizance of an offence on its own • Case has to be committed to it by a Magistrate taking cognizance
TRIAL – Summons cases and Summary trials • Accused is informed of the accusation made against him • If he pleads guilty • He may be convicted • If he pleads not guilty • Evidence of the prosecution and the defence is taken • Based on these, accused is • Acquitted or • Convicted of the offence
PROCEDURE FOR TRIAL • Accused is brought before Magistrate • Magistrate to ensure that all documents and police report are furnished to him • Magistrate to • Examine the material placed • Hear the prosecution and the accused • If Magistrate feels that charges leveled are groundless • Discharge the accused
PROCEDURE FOR TRIALS • If Magistrate feels that charges leveled are not groundless • Frames charges • Explains the charges to the accused • Asks him if he pleads guilty OR • Fix date for examination of prosecution witnesses and summon them • Examine the prosecution witnesses on date fixed • Summon the defence witnesses and take their evidence
PROCEDURE FOR TRIALS • After considering all the evidence, • if Magistrate feels that the accused is not guilty • Acquit him • if Magistrate feels that the accused is guilty • Convict him • Give a hearing to accused on sentence • Release him on probation if permitted by law or • Pass a sentence