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Rights While Being Arrested

Last updated on Jul 12, 2022

Upon being arrested you have certain rights, namely:

 

  • You can ask the police to identify themselves as they should bear accurate, visible and clear identification and name tags with their designations.
  • You can ask the police to call your lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer or cannot afford a lawyer, then you can ask the court to appoint a lawyer for you. 
  • You can ask the police to show the warrant for arrest, police report and other documents for your arrest and the police are required to show you this.
  • You should verify the accuracy of the memo of arrest prepared by the police before signing it. The memo of arrest should contain the date and time of arrest and should be attested by at least one witness.  
  • You should be informed about your eligibility for bail for the offence by the police.
  • You can ask to be examined for major and minor injuries on your body by a trained doctor and the police must comply. This examination has to be done every 48 hours if you are in their custody. This physical examination has to be recorded in the Inspection Memo and signed by the police officer. This is done to prevent violence by police while you are in their custody.
  • You should get a copy of the signed Inspection Memo.

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