These criminal law guides explain, in plain English, how the criminal justice system works for people in Bangalore. Whether you have received a police notice, need bail for a family member, want to file a complaint or are simply trying to understand a case in the news, start here. Every guide is written and reviewed by our editorial team and updated for the new criminal laws that came into force on 1 July 2024.
Start Here: What Is Your Situation?
- Someone has been arrested, or you fear arrest: read bail and anticipatory bail in Bangalore.
- You want to report a crime: see how to file an FIR, including Zero FIR and e-FIR.
- You lost money online: follow the steps in cyber fraud complaints and call 1930 at once.
- A matrimonial dispute has become a police case: read 498A and dowry harassment cases.
- A cheque given to you has bounced: check the deadlines in cheque bounce under Section 138.
- You believe a case against you is false: learn about quashing an FIR in the High Court.
Browse the Guides by Topic
Criminal Offences
What specific offences mean and how they are punished: cyber fraud, cruelty and dowry harassment, cheque bounce, breach of trust, intimidation, conspiracy, defamation, white-collar crime and sexual offences. Each guide gives the old IPC section and the new BNS section.
Criminal Procedure
How a case moves from complaint to judgment: filing an FIR, arrest and bail, cognizable offences, the stages of a trial, the documents the accused is entitled to, and how a case can be quashed or closed under the BNSS.
Criminal Justice Topics
Wider questions about the system: criminal law vs civil law, juvenile justice, criminal cases against politicians and the International Criminal Court.
The New Criminal Laws at a Glance
Three new laws replaced India’s colonial-era criminal codes on 1 July 2024. Offences committed before that date, and cases already pending, generally continue under the old laws, so you will see both sets of section numbers in our guides.
| Old law | New law | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) | Defines offences and punishments |
| Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) | Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) | FIR, arrest, bail, investigation and trial |
| Indian Evidence Act, 1872 | Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) | How facts are proved in court, including electronic evidence |
Some commonly searched examples: cruelty to a wife moved from IPC 498A to BNS 85, cheating from IPC 420 to BNS 318, criminal intimidation from IPC 506 to BNS 351, anticipatory bail from CrPC 438 to BNSS 482, and the High Court’s power to quash from CrPC 482 to BNSS 528.
Criminal Courts in Bangalore
Most criminal cases in the city start before a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court, chosen by the police station that registered the FIR. Serious offences are tried by the City Civil and Sessions Courts on K.G. Road. Bail refused below, petitions to quash FIRs, and appeals go to the High Court of Karnataka. To see which police stations and courts cover your locality, browse criminal lawyers by area.
How These Guides Are Written
Our guides are researched from the text of the statutes and from judgments of the Supreme Court and the Karnataka High Court, and reviewed by our editorial team before publication. We update them when the law changes. They are general information, not legal advice for your case. Read our editorial policy and about us page for more on how we work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these guides a substitute for a lawyer?
No. They explain the law in general. Your facts, the FIR, the court and deadlines all matter, so speak to an advocate before acting on a live case.
Do the guides cover the new BNS and BNSS?
Yes. Guides published or updated since July 2024 give both the old IPC or CrPC section and the new BNS or BNSS section.
Can I ask a question about a topic that is not covered?
Yes. Call the desk on 9361722724. The first consultation with an advocate is free, and we use common questions to plan new guides.
Need advice on your own case?
Compare the top criminal lawyers in Bangalore, or call the desk and we will connect you with an advocate who handles your kind of case.