Authority to Arrest Without Warrant

• A police officer who knows that someone is planning to commit a cognizable offence may arrest that person without a Magistrate’s order and without a warrant.
• However, this power can only be exercised if the officer believes that the offence cannot be prevented by any other means.

Limit on Detention

• A person arrested under this provision cannot be kept in custody for more than 24 hours unless:
  • Further detention is required or authorized under any other law.
  • The procedure under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) or another applicable law justifies longer custody.