Criminal Law
Investigating Officer
The police officer responsible for investigating a registered case — collecting evidence, recording statements, and ultimately filing the charge sheet.
The investigating officer (IO) leads the process after an FIR is registered — visiting the scene, collecting physical evidence, recording witness statements, arresting the accused where necessary, and eventually preparing the charge sheet or closure report.
The quality and fairness of an investigation often has a significant bearing on the outcome of a trial, which is why lapses by an IO are frequently raised as a defence.
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