It's Been 24 Hours in Custody — What Happens Next?
This is the point where the case either gets formally taken up by a magistrate, or the detention becomes illegal.
At the 24-hour mark, the person in custody must be produced before a magistrate. The magistrate then decides: release, further judicial custody, or bail — the police cannot just keep extending detention on their own authority past this point.
This is also usually when a First Information Report (FIR), if one exists, becomes something a lawyer can formally act on — requesting a copy, checking the exact sections invoked, and starting the bail process if applicable.
If nobody has heard anything by this point, it's time to move fast: contact the DLSA (15100), a private lawyer, or a rights organisation to check the custody status directly with the police station or the court.
Production before a magistrate is mandatory, not discretionary, at 24 hours
Still wondering about...
Can the magistrate extend custody past 24 hours?
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This FAQ covers the specifics — our complete guide covers everything about police stops, arrest and detention in one place.
Open the Full GuideAdhikar is an independent citizen-awareness platform, not a Government of India website and doesn't take a position on the NEET protests themselves — this is general information about rights every student already has, not legal advice for a specific situation. For that, contact a lawyer or the free legal aid helpline (15100).