Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 1973
358.Compensation to persons groundlessly arrested.-
(1) Whenever any person causes a police
officer to arrest another person, if it appears to the Magistrate by whom the
case is heard that there was no sufficient ground for causing such arrest, the
Magistrate may award such compensation, not exceeding one hundred rupees, to be
paid by the person so causing the arrest to the person so arrested, for his
loss of time and expenses in the matter, as the Magistrate thinks fit.
(2) In such cases, if more persons than one are arrested, the Magistrate may,
in like manner, award to each of them such compensation, not exceeding one
hundred rupees, as such Magistrate thinks fit.
(3) All compensation awarded under this section may be recovered as if it were a
fine, and if it cannot be so recovered, the person by whom it is payable shall
be sentenced to simple imprisonment for such term not exceeding thirty days as
the Magistrate directs, unless such sum is sooner paid.