Commencement of the period of limitation
AI Assist
Summary
Limitation runs from the date the offence was committed. If the victim or any police officer did not know about the offence, it runs from the first day either the victim or a police officer learns of it, whichever is earlier. If the offender's identity was unknown, it runs from the first day the identity becomes known to the victim or the investigating police, whichever is earlier. Do not count the starting day when computing the period.
Example
Aditya's phone was stolen on March 1 but he did not know who took it. Police identified the thief on March 10 and informed Aditya on March 15; the limitation period starts on March 10 (earlier of victim or police), and March 10 is excluded when counting the period.
Bare Act
Enacted text(1) The period of limitation, in relation to an offence, shall commence,
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(a) on the date of the offence; or
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(b) where the commission of the offence was not known to the person aggrieved by the offence or to any police officer, the first day on which such offence comes to the knowledge of such person or to any police officer, whichever is earlier; or
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(c) where it is not known by whom the offence was committed, the first day on which the identity of the offender is known to the person aggrieved by the offence or to the police officer making investigation into the offence, whichever is earlier.
(2) In computing the said period, the day from which such period is to be computed shall be excluded.
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