Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Chapter VII: Processes to Compel the Production of Things · B.–Search-warrants
Section 98: Power to compel restoration of abducted females
The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 was repealed and replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. It still applies to matters and proceedings from before that date, as the repealing law provides.
In plain words
On a complaint on oath that a woman, or a girl under eighteen years of age, has been abducted or unlawfully detained for an unlawful purpose, a District Magistrate, Sub-divisional Magistrate or first class Magistrate can order her immediate release, or the girl's return to her lawful guardian, using necessary force.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
Upon complaint made on oath of the abduction or unlawful detention of a woman, or a female child under the age of eighteen years for any unlawful purpose, a District Magistrate, Sub-divisional Magistrate or Magistrate of the first class may make an order for the immediate restoration of such woman to her liberty, or of such female child to her husband, parent, guardian or other person having the lawful charge of such child, and may compel compliance with such order, using such force as may be necessary. C.—General provisions relating to searches
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (Legislative Department), the text of the Act as it stood before its repeal. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 98
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.