Amaravati, January 15, 2026: The Andhra Pradesh High Court has ruled that police cannot register an FIR or investigate theft of property valued under ₹5,000 without prior permission from a Magistrate.
This stems from a case in Kurnool district where a man was accused of transporting sand worth only ₹1,500. The offence fell under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), making it non-cognizable.
Police had registered an FIR, arrested the accused, and filed a charge sheet, also invoking the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act.
Justice Venkata Jyothirmai Pratapa quashed the proceedings, noting that for non-cognizable offences, police must seek Magistrate approval first. The court also highlighted that MMDR Act cases require a complaint from an authorized officer for cognizance, not just a police charge sheet.
