Criminal Law
Criminal complaints, bail matters, trials and appeals.
Practice area
Criminal Law
Criminal complaints, bail matters, trials and appeals.
This area has a detailed section with its own service pages. Go to Criminal Law.
Understanding Criminal Law
Criminal matters move faster than civil ones at the start and much of what determines their course happens in the first days: whether an FIR is registered and in what terms, whether an arrest is made, and whether bail is applied for and where. Advice taken early is materially more useful than advice taken after those steps have already been fixed.
From 1 July 2024 the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Offences said to have been committed before that date continue to be governed by the earlier codes, so which set of provisions applies to your matter is one of the first things confirmed.
Matters covered and detailed guidance
Documents to prepare
Bring the records that explain your situation. The precise documents depend on the facts; the following is a starting point.
- Agreements, deeds, notices or orders relevant to the matter
- A dated account of the events and the parties involved
- Correspondence, acknowledgements and payment records
- Earlier proceedings, filings and advice where available
- Original documents for verification when requested
How a matter is assessed
The first step is to identify the issue, the relevant documents and the result you need. The applicable law, available procedure, responsible authority and any time-sensitive requirements are then considered on those facts.
Advice, document preparation, correspondence and representation are different tasks. The scope of any engagement is discussed before work begins. No outcome can be promised, and an initial enquiry does not create an advocate–client relationship.
Common questions
Someone has threatened to file a false case. What can I do now?
Preserve everything — messages, call records, correspondence, and any document showing where you were and what actually happened. Take advice before responding. Depending on the facts, an application for anticipatory bail or a representation to the police may be appropriate, and the choice between them is not obvious without the papers.
Is a lawyer needed at the police station?
You are entitled to consult a legal practitioner, and there are safeguards around arrest and custody that exist precisely because that stage is difficult to undo later. Whether an advocate accompanies you and what is said depends on the situation, but advice before you attend is almost always worth taking.
Can a criminal case be withdrawn or settled?
Some offences are compoundable, meaning the law permits a compromise, often with the court's permission. Many are not. Whether a settlement can bring your matter to an end depends on the offences alleged, and it should be confirmed rather than assumed on the strength of what is said informally.