New Criminal Law (BNS, BNSS & BSA) Lawyer in Odisha
The BNS, BNSS, and BSA replaced the IPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act on 1 July 2024, and continue to govern criminal law in India today. Advocate Debarchana Samal advises clients on what this new framework means for their criminal matter and represents them before Cuttack and Odisha courts.
BNS · BNSS · BSA
New Criminal Law Services
BNS Criminal Defence
Defending clients charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for offences alleged to have been committed on or after 1 July 2024.
BNSS Investigation & Trial Procedure
Guiding clients through investigation, FIR, bail, and trial procedure now governed by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
BSA Evidence Matters
Advising on how digital and documentary evidence is now handled under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam in ongoing proceedings.
Bail Under the New Regime
Filing anticipatory and regular bail applications under BNSS provisions, including guidance on the narrowed exception for gang rape cases involving minors.
Practical Guidance on the Transition
Explaining, in plain terms, what the shift from IPC/CrPC/Evidence Act to BNS/BNSS/BSA means for an ongoing or new criminal matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are BNS, BNSS, and BSA?
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) are the laws that replaced the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act respectively. They came into force on 1 July 2024 and continue to govern criminal law in India.
How has criminal defence changed under the new law?
Practical changes include electronic filing of complaints and Zero-FIRs under BNSS Section 173, a mandatory 14-day preliminary inquiry for offences up to 7 years before FIR registration, and new evidentiary procedures for digital material under the BSA. The overall framework of offences and defences remains substantially similar but with revised section numbers and updated procedure.
Does the new law apply to offences committed before 1 July 2024?
Generally no. Which law applies depends on when the offence was committed rather than when the case is filed or heard — an offence committed before 1 July 2024 continues to be dealt with under the IPC and CrPC, while offences from that date onward fall under BNS and BNSS.
Has anticipatory bail changed under the new law?
Anticipatory bail under the BNSS largely mirrors the earlier CrPC provision, so the core protection remains available, but it now excludes cases of gang rape involving minors. An advocate can assess whether your matter qualifies.
Why is there still confusion about the new criminal law years after it came into force?
Even though BNS, BNSS, and BSA have been in force since 1 July 2024, the renumbering of long-familiar IPC and CrPC provisions, combined with new procedural steps like electronic FIR filing and preliminary inquiry, continues to cause confusion among the public — which is why legal guidance on which regime and section applies remains valuable.
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Serving clients across Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and all districts of Odisha.