SC lawyers seek guidelines to curb misuse of ‘shown arrest’

A group of Supreme Court lawyers has served a legal notice on the government, calling for guidelines to prevent the alleged misuse of the “shown arrest” procedure under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

The notice was sent on Saturday to the Law and Justice Division, the Supreme Court Registrar General, the Public Security Division and the Inspector General of Police.

Sent by Appellate Division lawyer Barrister Mohammad Humayun Kabir Pallab on behalf of the Law and Life Foundation Trust and three other lawyers, the notice warns that a writ petition may be filed with the High Court if no action is taken within five days.

The lawyers alleged that law enforcement agencies often show an accused arrested in a new case after they secure bail in another, effectively nullifying court-granted bail and undermining judicial authority.

The notice referred to the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2026, which introduced Section 167A, requiring a magistrate to approve a shown arrest only after the accused is produced before the court, allowed to make a statement and the court is satisfied that sufficient grounds exist.

It also cited constitutional guarantees of personal liberty, protection against unlawful arrest and detention, the right to a fair trial and freedom of movement, urging the authorities to ensure the law is not misused.