Senior approval now mandatory for FIR

The Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG-IGP), Dr. M.A. Saleem, has issued a directive mandating prior approval from senior officers before invoking certain criminal sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)-2023 in FIRs and investigations.

As per the circular issued to all unit heads, police officers must now obtain approval before registering or investigating cases under Sections 304 (culpable homicide), 103(2) (group violence), 111 (abetment), and 113(B) (dowry-related death). This move aims to ensure proper scrutiny and legal compliance in the use of these serious charges.

Key instructions include:

Assessing whether prima facie elements of the above sections exist in the complaint.

Submitting a preliminary opinion report to senior officers for approval before including the charges in the FIR or investigation.

Only Additional SPs (district level) or DCPs (commissionerate level) are authorized to grant approvals for Sections 304, 103(2), and 111.

For Section 113(B), approvals must come from SPs or DCPs.

In emergencies involving law and order or public safety, verbal approval may be sought, followed by written confirmation within 24 hours. Unit heads are responsible for ensuring full compliance and reviewing these procedures in regular crime review meetings. The directive emphasizes accountability and careful legal evaluation before framing grave charges. All police stations and special investigation units across the state have been instructed to implement these guidelines immediately.