Once Charges Are Framed, They Cannot Be Deleted Under CrPC/BNSS : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has ruled that once charges are framed under Section 228 CrPC, they cannot be deleted using Section 216 CrPC or Section 239 BNSS, as these provisions permit only alteration or addition, not deletion.

The Court emphasized that after framing charges, the trial must culminate in acquittal or conviction; discharge is not permissible under Section 227 CrPC or Section 216.

The Court found that the trial court and High Court had erred in deleting NDPS charges mid-trial without proper acquittal, which is procedurally impermissible.

The Supreme Court ordered a fresh trial under the NDPS Act before a special judge. (Directorate of Revenue Intelligence v. Raj Kumar Arora & Ors.)