281. In any summons-case instituted otherwise than upon complaint, a Magistrate of the first class or, with the previous sanction of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, any other Judicial Magistrate, may, for reasons to be recorded by him, stop the proceedings at any stage without pronouncing any judgment and where such stoppage of proceedings is made after the evidence of the principal witnesses has been recorded, pronounce a judgment of acquittal, and in any other case, release the accused, and such release shall have the effect of discharge.
CrPC Section 258 in BNSS: Section 281
Power to stop proceedings in certain cases
Section 258 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Power to stop proceedings in certain cases) corresponds to Section 281 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in force from 1 July 2024.
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Text of BNSS Section 281
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