In the landmark case Kedarnath
v. State of Bihar (1962), the Supreme Court addressed the scope of arrest powers and the distinction between arrest and investigation. The Court established that: Which principle regarding arrest and investigation was established in Kedarnath
v. State of Bihar?

In Kedarnath v. State of Bihar (1962), the Supreme Court distinguished arrest from investigation, establishing that arrest is not an automatic consequence of suspicion. The judgment laid the foundation for the principle that investigation can proceed without arrest in many cases, particularly for non-cognizable offences and lesser offences. This principle emphasizes that arrest should be the exception, not the rule. It has been codified in BNSS Section 35 (which limits arrest in cognizable offences) and in modern jurisprudence emphasizing alternatives to arrest for non-serious crimes. The landmark decision protects personal liberty by preventing arbitrary arrests without reasonable grounds.