Delhi Police Registers First FIR Under New Criminal Code

Delhi Police have filed their first FIR under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against a street vendor for obstructing a public path. This marks the beginning of significant changes in India's criminal justice system with the implementation of three new laws replacing colonial-era codes.

In a significant move, Delhi Police have registered their first FIR under the provisions of the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The incident involves a street vendor in central Delhi's Kamala Market area obstructing a public way.

Officials reported that three new criminal laws—the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam—came into effect on Monday, replacing the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act.

The FIR, registered under Section 285 of the BNS, was against Pankaj Kumar, a 23-year-old vendor from Patna, Bihar, for selling water, bidi, and cigarettes that obstructed a public way. The Delhi Police, utilizing the e-Pramaan app for recording the seizure, noted that despite warnings, Kumar ignored instructions, leading to the FIR.