Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
BNSS 281 was CrPC 258.
Power to stop proceedings in certain cases.
Carried over
Old wording kept in full
Old · CrPC 1973 · Ch. XX
s. 258
Power to stop proceedings in certain cases
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.
Text from the official India Code PDF
New · BNSS 2023 · Ch. XXI
s. 281
Power to stop proceedings in certain cases.
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.
Text from India Code