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Individual
Criminal Defence
Anticipatory and regular bail, FIR quashing, trial representation, and Supreme Court appeals across India, when the timeline is hours, not weeks.
Background
Criminal defence in India: from FIR to appeal
A criminal matter in India moves through stages, investigation (FIR, Section 41A notice, arrest, remand), inquiry/trial (committal, framing of charges, prosecution evidence, defence evidence, judgement), and appeal/revision. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (replacing CrPC) sets the procedural backbone. Defence strategy is decided in the first 24 hours: bail, anticipatory or regular; FIR quashing under Section 528 BNSS (formerly 482 CrPC); and if neither applies, trial preparation.
What We Handle
Scope of Work
- ▸ Anticipatory bail, Section 482 BNSS (formerly 438 CrPC), filed in Sessions or High Court
- ▸ Regular bail at first remand and beyond, Section 480 BNSS (formerly 437/439 CrPC)
- ▸ FIR quashing under Section 528 BNSS, civil disputes clothed as criminal, settled compoundable matters, abuse of process
- ▸ Trial representation in Magistrate, Sessions, and High Court, examination, cross, written submissions
- ▸ White-collar and economic-offence defence, PMLA, FEMA, GST, IPC 420/406
- ▸ NDPS Act defence, focus on procedural lapses (Sections 42, 50, 52A) that often decide outcomes
- ▸ Cyber-fraud defence and recovery, IT Act, BNS provisions
- ▸ Appeals and revisions to Sessions, High Court, and Supreme Court
Who It's For
Anyone facing or anticipating a criminal proceeding, from a 41A notice through trial to appeal, including NRIs facing matters during India visits.
How It Works
A Four-Step Path to Clarity
- 01Emergency triage
24/7 line. We assess stage of the matter, urgency, and the immediate next move, bail, notice response, or quashing.
- 02Strategy & filing
Bail or quashing petition drafted within hours where needed; trial preparation calendared if the matter is at evidence stage.
- 03Court representation
Argument by senior counsel where matter calls for it; we appear at every hearing, no last-minute proxy junior counsel.
- 04Resolution & follow-through
Acquittal, settlement, conviction-and-appeal, or sentence-mitigation, the matter is closed only when you say it is.
Cross-Border Matters, India Jurisdiction
NRIs facing criminal matters in India (498A, cheating, NDPS, cyber-fraud, IT Act) need Indian-jurisdiction defence, Indian Sessions Courts, High Courts, Supreme Court. LawCrust handles all of it, including pre-travel anticipatory bail and Lookout Circular protection. The foreign-jurisdiction interface (your country's consulate, your passport authority, your local immigration) is coordinated with you and your local counsel.
In Their Words
What Clients Say About Criminal Defence
"Anticipatory bail in 9 days from a 498A FIR in Gurgaon. My case turned around in a way I did not think possible. Honest counsel, daily updates, no theatrics."
"FIR quashing for a 420 IPC case that was clearly a civil dispute. High Court order in 7 months. The team built a tight, documentary defence. Saved my career."
"I am in Sydney. Got a notice about a complaint filed in Chennai. They handled anticipatory bail and the LOC writ in parallel, I travelled to India safely 6 weeks later. Premium handling under pressure."
Reviews shown are anonymised at the client's request, identifiers, matter values, and outcomes are withheld for confidentiality per BCI guidelines and our privilege obligations.
Common Questions
Criminal Defence, Asked & Answered
Should I apply for anticipatory bail before going to the police?
Generally yes, if the offence is non-bailable and arrest is a real possibility. Anticipatory bail under Section 482 BNSS protects you from being taken into custody on appearance. Filing first is the safer order, answering a 41A notice without protection can lead to immediate arrest in some cases.
Can a false FIR be quashed?
Yes, under Section 528 BNSS (formerly 482 CrPC) the High Court can quash an FIR if (a) the allegations do not disclose any offence, (b) the case is patently frivolous, (c) it is a civil dispute clothed as criminal, or (d) the parties have settled in a compoundable matter. Quashing usually takes 4 to 12 months depending on the High Court.
What happens at first remand after arrest?
Within 24 hours of arrest, the police must produce the accused before a Magistrate. The Magistrate decides whether to grant police custody (up to 15 days for serious offences), judicial custody, or release on bail. This is often the most important hearing of the case, bail granted here saves weeks or months of detention.
I have received a 41A CrPC notice. Will I be arrested if I go?
Not automatically. Section 41A CrPC (now BNSS Section 35) directs the police to issue a notice for appearance instead of arrest where arrest is not immediately necessary. You are obliged to appear, but you have the right to counsel and to refuse self-incriminating statements. Arrest after a 41A appearance is now constrained by the Supreme Court's Arnesh Kumar guardrails, the officer must record reasons in writing.
My family member has been arrested. How fast can we get bail?
It depends on the offence and the stage. (1) Bailable offence, bail is a matter of right at the police station, immediate. (2) Non-bailable at first remand, usually decided within 1 to 3 days at the Magistrate's court. (3) Sessions / High Court bail, 3 to 14 days. We mobilise on the bail application within hours of being engaged.
Will hiring an expensive lawyer actually help my criminal case?
Honest answer: it depends on the offence and the evidence, not the fee. For procedural defences (NDPS Section 42 lapses, PMLA twin-conditions framing, Arnesh Kumar arrest-rule challenges), experienced senior counsel makes a measurable difference. For straightforward bail or simple FIR quashing, a competent junior is enough. We staff matters to fit, not to maximise our own billing.
I have been falsely accused. How long will this take to clear from my record?
If we secure FIR quashing under Section 528 BNSS, the FIR is closed and does not stand on record, typically 4 to 12 months. If the matter proceeds to trial and you are acquitted, the record reflects "acquitted" but the FIR registration remains traceable, expungement requires separate court process. Background checks for jobs and visas generally show acquittals as cleared.
Speak With Counsel
Discuss Your Criminal Defence Matter
Share a few details. A member of our team responds within one business day with a written next-step plan. The first call is nominal and confidential.
- ✓ Response within one business day, no IVR, no gatekeepers.
- ✓ Confidential. Information shared here is covered by professional privilege.
- ✓ India-side counsel for NRIs, available in US, UK, Gulf, APAC time zones.
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