Delhi’s first FIR under new BNS criminal law quashed

New Delhi: The first FIR registered in Delhi under the provisions of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) penal code against a street vendor was quashed after police filed a closure report before a court on Tuesday.

Pankaj was arrested for allegedly obstructing a public thoroughfare in central Delhi’s Kamala Market area on Monday, when the BNS and two other new criminal laws came into force.

The police had initiated the process on Monday but it was officially cancelled after submitting a closure report before the Tis Hazari court on Tuesday, a senior official said.

Pankaj was booked under section 285 of the BNS for allegedly obstructing a public way while selling water bottles, bidis and cigarettes from a cart under a foot overbridge near New Delhi railway station around 12:15 am. The FIR was registered at 1:57 am on Monday.

Talk to PTI, Mithun Kumar said he was very happy that the FIR registered against his brother was quashed.

“We are relieved, but there is still uncertainty about our ability to carry out our activities in the area,” said Mithun, who along with his brother owned the cart.

At a press conference on Monday, Home Minister Amit Shah said Delhi Police had “closed” the case against a street vendor after an investigation. “Using the review provisions, the police have closed the case,” he said.