PLD 2022 Lahore 773

PLD 2022 Lahore 773
Criminal Procedure Code (V of 1898)—
—-S. 154—Information in cognizable cases—Scope—Registration of FIR is not a condition precedent for commencement of investigation.

—-Ss. 154, 156 & 157—Information in cognizable cases—Investigation into cognizable cases—Procedure where cognizable offence suspected—Scope—Receipt and recording of an information report is not a condition precedent to the setting in motion of a criminal investigation—Criminal prosecutions are undertaken as a result of information received and recorded but there is no reason why the police, if in possession through their own knowledge or by means of credible though informal intelligence which genuinely leads them to the belief that a cognizable offence has been committed, should not of their own motion undertake an investigation into the truth of the matters alleged—Section 157, Cr.P.C., when directing that a police officer, who has reason to suspect from information or otherwise that an offence which he is empowered to investigate under S. 156 has been committed shall proceed to investigate the facts and circumstances, supports this view—In truth the provisions as to an information report (commonly called a first information report) are enacted for other reasons—Object is to obtain early information of the alleged criminal activity, to record the circumstances before there is time for them to be forgotten or embellished.