New criminal laws come into effect, first FIR filed against Delhi's street vendor

As the new criminal laws take effect, the first FIR was filed against a street vendor for obstructing a road near the New Delhi Railway Station. 

He was charged under Section 285 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for obstructing a foot over bridge at New Delhi Railway Station and conducting sales.

A police officer on patrolling duty last night when he spotted the street vendor selling water bottles and gutkha on the road. His makeshift stall had obstructed the road and he was repeatedly requested to move it. When he did not, the police officer registered an FIR against him.

The new criminal laws - Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 will replace the British-era criminal laws - the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1873, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, respectively.