power to arrest vs necessity to arrest

REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.3816 OF 2024
@ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CRIMINAL) NO. 11023 OF 2024
ARVIND KEJRIWAL   APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION          RESPONDENT(S)
WITH
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.3817 OF 2024
@ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CRIMINAL) No. 10991 OF 2024
J U D G M E N T
UJJAL BHUYAN, J.
27. Power to arrest is one thing but the need to arrest is
altogether a different thing. Just because an investigating agency
has the power to arrest, it does not necessarily mean that it
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should arrest such a person. In Joginder Kumar Vs. State of U.P.1
,
a three­Judge bench of this Court examined the interplay of
investigation   and   arrest.   Referring   to   the   third   report   of   the
National Police Commission, this Court declared that no arrest
can be made just because it is lawful for police officers to do so.
The existence of the power of arrest is one thing but justification
for the exercise of it is quite another. It was held as under:
20. .No arrest can be made because it is
lawful   for   the   police   officer   to   do   so.   The
existence of the power to arrest is one thing.
The justification for the exercise of it is quite
another.   The   police   officer   must   be   able   to
justify the arrest apart from his power to do so.
Arrest   and   detention   in   police   lock­up   of   a
person   can   cause   incalculable   harm   to   the
reputation   and   self­esteem   of   a   person.   No
arrest can be made in a routine manner on a
mere   allegation   of   commission   of   an   offence
made against a person. It would be prudent for
a police officer in the interest of protection of
the   constitutional   rights   of   a   citizen   and
perhaps   in   his   own   interest   that   no   arrest
should   be   made   without   a   reasonable
satisfaction reached after some investigation as
1 (1994) 4 SCC 260
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to   the   genuineness   and   bona   fides   of   a
complaint and a reasonable belief both as to
the person's complicity and even so as to the
need to effect arrest. Denying a person of his
liberty   is   a   serious   matter.   The
recommendations   of   the   Police   Commission
merely reflect the constitutional concomitants
of the fundamental right to personal liberty and
freedom. A person is not liable to arrest merely
on the suspicion of complicity in an offence.
There must be some reasonable justification in
the opinion of the officer effecting the arrest
that   such   arrest   is   necessary   and   justified.
Except in heinous offences, an arrest must be
avoided if a police officer issues notice to person
to attend the Station House and not to leave the
Station without permission would do.