Best Criminal Lawyer in Delhi

A criminal lawyer in Delhi advises and represents you at every stage of a criminal case under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS): the FIR, a police notice or arrest, remand and bail, the police report, charge, trial and appeal. If you are searching for the best criminal lawyer in Delhi, the useful questions are practical. Will the advocate speak to you today? Will the advocate tell you plainly what the FIR means? Will the advocate be in the right court on the right date? Advocate Kanisth Manuja, a criminal advocate in Delhi, works on those three points: he handles criminal matters from the first phone call after an FIR through trial and appeal, for accused persons and for complainants and victims, from Chamber S-307, 3rd Floor, Delhi High Court, Pragati Vihar, New Delhi 110003.

• Courts: Delhi district courts, Delhi High Court
• Principal chamber: S-307, 3rd Floor, Delhi High Court, Pragati Vihar, New Delhi 110003
• Other chambers and offices: Saket (Lawyers Block), Karkardooma Court, Dwarka, Pitampura
• Practice: Individual advocate; appears personally
• Acts for: Accused persons, complainants and victims

Criminal lawyer, criminal advocate, criminal case lawyer: the same help

People type “criminal lawyer Delhi”, “criminal advocate Delhi” or “criminal case lawyer” for the same thing. They all mean an enrolled advocate who handles offences, investigation, bail, trial and appeal. “Advocate” is the word used in the Advocates Act, 1961. “Lawyer” is the everyday word. The difference that matters is what the advocate does for you in the first days, because the choices made then, about a police notice, anticipatory bail or a statement to the investigating officer, shape the rest of the case.

When to call a criminal defence lawyer

A criminal lawyer can do more before an arrest than after it, and more in the first week of an investigation than in the sixth month. Call at once if any of these has happened:

• An FIR has been registered naming you, or you believe one is about to be.
• You have received a notice under Section 35 of the BNSS asking you to appear before the police.
• A family member has been arrested and bail has to be moved urgently.
• A Magistrate has summoned you on a private complaint.
• A police report (charge-sheet) has been filed and charge is about to be framed.
• You have been convicted and the time for appeal is running.
• You are the victim or complainant and the police are not registering your FIR or not investigating.

The life of a criminal case under the BNSS

Since 1 July 2024 procedure is governed by the BNSS, the offences by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) and the law of evidence by the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA). A typical case moves through these stages:

1. FIR. Information about a cognizable offence is recorded under Section 173 BNSS. It can be registered at any police station whatever the place of the offence (a “zero FIR”), and information can be given electronically if the informant signs within three days. The informant is entitled to a free copy.
2. Preliminary enquiry, in some cases. For offences punishable with three years or more but less than seven, the police may, with the permission of an officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, hold a preliminary enquiry of up to fourteen days before registering the FIR (Section 173(3)).
3. Notice or arrest. For offences punishable with up to seven years, arrest needs one of the grounds in Section 35(1)(b), with reasons recorded. Otherwise the police issue a notice to appear under Section 35(3). A person who is infirm or above sixty cannot be arrested for an offence punishable with less than three years without a Deputy Superintendent’s permission.
4. Production and remand. An arrested person must be produced before a Magistrate within twenty-four hours. Police custody is limited to fifteen days in all under Section 187.
5. Bail. Anticipatory bail before arrest; regular or default bail after it. See the bail lawyer in Delhi and anticipatory bail lawyer pages.
6. Police report under Section 193: a charge-sheet, or a closure report if the police find no case.
7. Cognizance and copies. The Magistrate takes cognizance under Section 210. The accused is supplied the police report, FIR, statements and documents within fourteen days of first appearance (Section 230).
8. Discharge or charge. An application for discharge has to be filed within sixty days. If the court finds a prima facie case, charge is framed, ordinarily within sixty days of the first hearing on charge.
9. Trial: prosecution witnesses and cross-examination, the accused’s statement, defence evidence and arguments.
10. Judgment, to be pronounced within forty-five days of the end of arguments.
11. Appeal or revision, to the Sessions Court or the High Court, on short limitation periods.

If you or a family member is arrested

The police must respect certain safeguards, and the Magistrate checks them at the first remand hearing:

• Grounds of arrest must be communicated (Section 47). In Mihir Rajesh Shah v. State of Maharashtra (2025) the Supreme Court held that the grounds must be given in writing, in a language the person understands.
• A relative or friend must be told of the arrest and the place of detention (Section 48), and an arrest memorandum is prepared (Section 36).
• The arrested person may meet an advocate during interrogation, though not throughout it (Section 38), and must be medically examined (Section 53).
• Production within twenty-four hours before a Magistrate, who decides remand or bail.

A confession made to a police officer is not admissible against its maker under the BSA, but what is said to the police still shapes the investigation. If a safeguard was skipped, I raise it at the first remand hearing. For the first two days after an FIR, read what to do in the first 48 hours after an FIR in Delhi.

Best criminal lawyer in Delhi for bail

Bail is usually the first thing a family asks for. Anticipatory bail is sought before arrest from the Sessions Court or the High Court under Section 482 BNSS. Regular bail is sought after arrest from the Magistrate or Sessions Court under Section 480 and from the Sessions Court or the High Court under Section 483. Default (statutory) bail is available under Section 187 if the police report is not filed within sixty days, or ninety days for offences punishable with death, life imprisonment or imprisonment of ten years or more. Section 479 also generally limits the time an undertrial can be held to one-half of the maximum sentence for the offence, or one-third for a first-time offender, other than in offences punishable with death or life imprisonment. The full process, with documents and timelines, is on the bail lawyer page; the general process is also explained in the criminal bail process in Delhi guide.

When you are the complainant or victim

Registration of an FIR is mandatory for a cognizable offence, subject to the preliminary-enquiry exception above. If the police refuse:

1. Write to the senior officer. Section 173(4) lets you send the substance of the complaint in writing to the Superintendent of Police, who in Delhi is the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the district.
2. Apply to the Magistrate under Section 175(3), with a supporting affidavit, for an order directing investigation.
3. File a complaint case before the Magistrate, who examines you and your witnesses on oath under Section 223. The accused has to be heard before cognizance is taken on a complaint.

Once an FIR is registered, the police must inform the informant or victim of the progress of the investigation within ninety days. A victim may also appeal against an acquittal, a conviction for a lesser offence or inadequate compensation (proviso to Section 413).

Criminal matters I handle

• Anticipatory bail (Section 482 BNSS) and regular bail (Sections 480 and 483 BNSS).
• Quashing of FIRs and proceedings under Section 528 BNSS before the Delhi High Court; see the Delhi High Court advocate page.
• Trial defence in offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
• Cheating and criminal breach of trust (Sections 318 and 316 BNS), where the real question is often whether the dispute is civil.
• Cruelty to a married woman (Sections 85 and 86 BNS, which replaced Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code) and domestic violence proceedings, with the related maintenance claims; see the matrimonial lawyer page.
• Hurt, assault and criminal intimidation (for example Sections 115, 117 and 351 BNS).
• Narcotics cases under the NDPS Act, 1985, where the quantity seized decides the bail standard; see the NDPS lawyer page.
• Cyber offences and online fraud under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the BNS.
• Cheque dishonour complaints under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
• Criminal appeals, revisions and applications for suspension of sentence.
• Criminal cases involving a person living abroad; see the NRI criminal lawyer page.

Quashing, settlement and compounding

Not every case should go to trial. Some offences are compoundable under Section 359 BNSS and can be settled in the trial court with its permission. For others, a genuine settlement or a plainly defective FIR can be taken to the Delhi High Court under Section 528 BNSS, which carries forward the High Court’s inherent powers earlier found in Section 482 of the old Code. The High Court looks at the nature of the offence: a largely private dispute, such as many matrimonial or money cases, is more likely to be quashed than a serious offence against society. I tell you at the first meeting which route fits, and I say so plainly when it is not worth pursuing.

The new criminal laws: what changed for an accused person

The BNSS, BNS and BSA came into force on 1 July 2024 and renumbered almost everything. In practice this means:

• Which law applies. The offence is the one defined on the date of the incident, so an incident before 1 July 2024 is generally tried under the Indian Penal Code. Procedure depends on timing: under Section 531 BNSS an investigation, trial or appeal pending on 1 July 2024 continues under the old Code, and proceedings begun after that date follow the BNSS. Many Delhi courtrooms therefore run both systems side by side.
• Police notice and arrest. Section 35 BNSS replaced Section 41A of the old Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Forensics and recording. For offences punishable with seven years or more, a forensic team is to visit the scene, and searches and seizures are recorded by audio-video means (Section 105).
• Electronic summons and hearings. Summons can be served electronically and many hearings are held by video link.
• Trial in absence. A proclaimed offender who absconds can be tried in absence under Section 356.

Which court hears a criminal case in Delhi

A criminal case goes to the district court complex that covers the police station where the FIR was registered. I confirm the right court from the FIR itself. I appear before the district courts at Tis Hazari, Karkardooma, Rohini, Dwarka, Saket and Patiala House, and before the Delhi High Court for bail after a Sessions refusal, quashing petitions and criminal appeals.

• Advocate in Tis Hazari Court, for Central and North Delhi among others.
• Advocate in Karkardooma Court, for East, North East and Shahdara districts; I have a chamber at Karkardooma Court.
• Advocate in Rohini Court, for North West Delhi; my Pitampura office is opposite Rohini Court.
• Saket, for South and South East Delhi; I have a chamber in the Lawyers Block at Saket.
• Dwarka, for South West Delhi; I have an office at Dwarka.

See the courts page for the full list. A challenge to a High Court order in the Supreme Court is filed through an Advocate-on-Record, an advocate registered to file there. I brief and argue the matter with the Advocate-on-Record; I am not myself an Advocate-on-Record. See the Supreme Court advocate page.

Realistic timelines

• Anticipatory or regular bail: usually decided within days to a few weeks, depending on the court and the urgency.
• Investigation to police report: a few months in many cases; longer in complex or economic offences.
• Summons case before a Magistrate: often one to two years.
• Sessions trial: commonly several years.
• Quashing petition in the High Court: a few months to more than a year.

These are ranges, not promises. They depend on the court’s list, the number of witnesses and the conduct of both sides.

Documents to bring to the first meeting

• The FIR or complaint, and any police notice or court summons.
• The arrest memo, remand and bail orders, and the bail bond, if any.
• The case number and next date.
• Your own written chronology of events, with messages, call logs, receipts and medical papers.

Keep the originals safe and bring copies. If you have none of these, come anyway: an FIR number or case number is enough to start.

How I approach criminal cases

Every matter starts with a plain reading of the FIR or complaint against the ingredients of the offence alleged. Often the most useful early work is unglamorous: getting the case diary position right, fixing the chronology, and identifying which documents actually exist. From there the strategy is set out in writing, so you know what is being applied for, when, and what the realistic range of outcomes is. No result can be promised in a criminal case, but you will be told candidly how strong or weak the position is, and when a settlement or a quashing petition is the more sensible route.

Contact Advocate Kanisth Manuja

Advocate Kanisth Manuja, Chamber S-307, 3rd Floor, Delhi High Court, Pragati Vihar, New Delhi 110003
Phone: +91 9990856569
WhatsApp: +91 9990856569
Email: advocatekanisth@gmail.com

Other chambers and offices: Saket (Lawyers Block), Karkardooma Court, Dwarka and Pitampura. Back to the home page, or read about the criminal law practice area.

This page is general information about criminal procedure in Delhi and is not an advertisement or solicitation. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an advocate–client relationship. No result is promised in any matter.

Last reviewed: 8 October 2026.

How a criminal matter proceeds

1. 01

   FIR or complaint

   The allegation is registered. Get a certified copy — it names the sections, the police station and therefore your court.

2. 02

   Notice or arrest

   A notice under Section 35 BNSS requires attendance, not custody. Where arrest is likely, anticipatory bail is moved first.

3. 03

   Bail

   Anticipatory bail under Section 482 BNSS before arrest; regular bail under Sections 480 and 483 after.

4. 04

   Investigation and chargesheet

   60 or 90 days depending on the offence. Miss that deadline and default bail under Section 187 BNSS becomes a right.

5. 05

   Framing of charge

   The most underused stage. If the chargesheet does not disclose the offence, discharge ends the matter without trial.

6. 06

   Trial and judgment

   Prosecution evidence, defence, final arguments.

7. 07

   Appeal

   Against conviction or sentence, with suspension of sentence applied for at the same time.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the best criminal lawyer in Delhi?

The best criminal lawyer for you is the one who takes your call today, reads the FIR before advising and appears in the court where your case is listed. Advocate Kanisth Manuja handles criminal matters from FIR to appeal in Delhi's district courts and the Delhi High Court, appears personally, and tells you plainly where you stand. No advocate can promise an outcome.

What should I do first if an FIR is registered against me in Delhi?

Get a copy of the FIR and take legal advice before you meet the police. The sections invoked decide whether arrest is likely, whether the offence is bailable, and whether anticipatory bail under Section 482 of the BNSS should be sought.

Can the police refuse to register my FIR?

Not if the information discloses a cognizable offence, subject to one exception. For offences punishable with three years or more but less than seven, Section 173(3) of the BNSS allows a preliminary enquiry of up to fourteen days, with the permission of an officer not below Deputy Superintendent rank. Otherwise registration is mandatory.

What can I do if the police will not register my complaint?

Send the substance of the complaint in writing to the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the district under Section 173(4) of the BNSS. If that fails, apply to the Magistrate under Section 175(3), supported by an affidavit, for an order directing investigation. You can also file a complaint case directly before the Magistrate.

I have received a notice under Section 35 of the BNSS. Will I be arrested?

Section 35(5) protects a person who complies with the notice and keeps cooperating, unless the police record reasons for arrest. Section 35(6) allows arrest if you fail to comply. The notice replaced Section 41A of the old Code of Criminal Procedure. Reply on the date given and take advice on what to carry and say.

What are my rights if I am arrested?

You must be told the grounds of arrest (Section 47), a relative or friend must be informed (Section 48), you may meet an advocate during interrogation though not throughout it (Section 38), you must be medically examined (Section 53), and you must be produced before a Magistrate within twenty-four hours. In Mihir Rajesh Shah v. State of Maharashtra (2025) the Supreme Court held that the grounds must be given in writing in a language you understand.

How long can the police keep someone in custody?

Police custody is limited to fifteen days in total under Section 187 of the BNSS, which may be taken in parts within the first forty or sixty days of detention. If the police report is not filed within sixty days, or ninety days for offences punishable with death, life imprisonment or ten years or more, default bail becomes available.

What is the difference between anticipatory bail and regular bail?

Anticipatory bail is sought before arrest, under Section 482 of the BNSS, from the Sessions Court or the High Court. Regular bail is sought after arrest, from the Magistrate under Section 480, or from the Sessions Court or the High Court under Section 483.

Can a criminal case be discharged before trial?

Yes, if the material on record does not disclose the offence charged. An application for discharge must be filed within sixty days: in a Sessions case, from commitment (Section 250 BNSS); in a Magistrate's warrant case, from the supply of documents (Section 262). If it fails, the court frames charge, ordinarily within sixty days of the first hearing on charge.

Can an FIR be quashed if the parties settle?

Sometimes. The Delhi High Court can quash an FIR under its inherent powers in Section 528 of the BNSS, including after a genuine settlement in a largely private dispute such as many matrimonial or money cases. It rarely does so for serious offences against society. Compoundable offences can instead be settled in the trial court under Section 359.

How long does a criminal trial take in Delhi?

There is no reliable single figure. A summons case before a Magistrate often ends within one to two years, while a Sessions trial with many witnesses commonly takes several years. The BNSS sets deadlines for some stages, but the court's list is the practical limit.

Can I appeal against a conviction, and how quickly?

Yes, and the time limits are short. Under the Limitation Act, 1963, an appeal against a sentence generally lies within thirty days to the Sessions Court, or sixty days to the High Court, from the date of the sentence. A victim may also appeal against an acquittal, a conviction for a lesser offence or inadequate compensation under the proviso to Section 413 of the BNSS.

My case concerns an incident before 1 July 2024. Which law applies?

The offence is the one defined on the date of the incident, usually under the Indian Penal Code that the BNS has since replaced. Procedure depends on timing: under Section 531 of the BNSS, an investigation, trial or appeal already pending on 1 July 2024 continues under the old Code, while proceedings begun after that date follow the BNSS.

Which court will hear my criminal case in Delhi?

The district court complex that covers the police station where the FIR was registered: for example Tis Hazari, Karkardooma, Rohini, Dwarka, Saket or Patiala House. Bail after a Sessions refusal, quashing petitions and criminal appeals go to the Delhi High Court. Bring the FIR and the court can be confirmed from it.

Do you act for complainants and victims as well as the accused?

Yes. I act for accused persons and for complainants and victims: getting an FIR registered, following up an investigation, appearing at trial and filing a victim's appeal where the law allows.