Section 457 of CrPC : Section 457: Procedure By Police Upon Seizure Of Property

Explanation using Example

Imagine a scenario where a local police officer recovers a stolen bicycle and reports the seizure to the Magistrate as per the law. The owner of the bicycle is not immediately known, and the bicycle is not needed as evidence in court. The Magistrate, under Section 457 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, decides to keep the bicycle in police custody while a search for the owner is conducted.

After some time, the rightful owner of the bicycle is identified through a lost-and-found report filed earlier. The Magistrate then orders the delivery of the bicycle to the owner, potentially imposing conditions such as proof of identity or ownership. If the owner had not been found, the Magistrate would have issued a public notice asking for claimants to come forward within six months to prove their ownership before the Magistrate could make a further decision regarding the bicycle's disposal.