Free AI Advocate — Legal Defence Under BNS/BNSS/BSA

Describe your legal situation and the AI Advocate finds every lawful option — bail strategy, notice reply, procedural defences and next steps — under India's new BNS, BNSS and BSA 2023. Free, instant, on your side.

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What you can do here

Criminal defence under BNS/BNSS/BSA 2023 (replaced IPC/CrPC/Evidence Act from 1 July 2024)
FIR registration, bail (anticipatory BNSS § 482 + regular) and arrest rights
Cheque bounce (NI Act § 138) — notice, reply and court strategy
Legal notice reply, consumer disputes, RTI application
Civil — maintenance (Section 125 BNSS), divorce, property disputes, DV Act

The codes changed on 1 July 2024

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam replaced the IPC, the CrPC and the Indian Evidence Act. Section numbers moved, and a great deal of legal content still online cites the old ones. Offences committed before that date are generally dealt with under the old law while later ones fall under the new codes, so both remain relevant in practice. Whenever you see a section number, check which code it belongs to before relying on it.

Your rights at the point of arrest

Some protections apply regardless of the allegation: to be told the grounds of arrest, to inform a relative or friend, to consult a lawyer of your choice, to be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, and to a medical examination. For offences carrying lighter punishment there is a requirement to issue a notice of appearance before arresting, and non-compliance with that procedure is a real and frequently effective point before a court. Knowing this matters most in the first few hours, which is exactly when people know it least.

Anticipatory bail is protection from custody, not from the case

An order under the anticipatory-bail provision directs that if you are arrested you shall be released on bail. The investigation continues and the case proceeds. Courts look for a genuine, articulable apprehension of arrest — a specific FIR, a notice, a summons — rather than a general fear, and they impose conditions: cooperate with the investigation, do not tamper with evidence or contact witnesses, do not leave the country without permission. Breaching a condition can get the protection cancelled, and getting it back is much harder.

Cheque bounce runs on three consecutive clocks

Section 138 matters are usually lost on timing rather than merits. The demand notice must go within 30 days of the bank's return memo; the drawer then has 15 days to pay; and the complaint must be filed within 30 days after that period ends. Send by registered post and keep the receipt, the tracking record and a copy of the notice — service is the most commonly contested fact in these cases. The cheque alone is not enough either; you must also show a legally enforceable debt behind it.

Use this to prepare, not to self-represent

Research and drafting are where AI assistance genuinely helps: understanding the provision, knowing what to ask, and arriving at a consultation with the facts organised and the documents assembled. It cannot appear before a court, judge how a particular bench will react, or take responsibility for strategy in a live matter. If you are facing arrest, a criminal charge or a hearing, engage an advocate — and use what you have read to make that engagement shorter and better directed. To understand a document you have received first, the notice decoder will identify it.

Frequently asked questions

Is the AI Advocate free?

Yes — completely free with no signup. It researches your facts and explains every lawful option in plain English. It is not a substitute for a licensed advocate.

What is the BNS?

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 replaced the IPC from 1 July 2024. Many section numbers changed (e.g. IPC 420 cheating is now BNS 318(4)). The AI Advocate cites the current code.

What is anticipatory bail and how do I apply?

Anticipatory bail (Section 482 BNSS, formerly CrPC 438) is a pre-arrest bail you can apply for in the Sessions Court or High Court when you apprehend arrest. The AI Advocate drafts the application and explains the strategy.

Can the AI Advocate help with cheque bounce cases?

Yes — the AI Advocate explains the Section 138 NI Act procedure: issuing a legal notice within 30 days, filing a complaint in the magistrate's court within 30 days of notice expiry, and the defence options available.