WhatsApp Notice Not Valid for Arrest Under Section 41A CrPC, Cop Convicted for Contempt Over Arnesh Kumar Guidelines Violation: Rajasthan High Court

The Rajasthan High Court recently convicted a police officer for contempt of court after the petitioner’s arrest was carried out solely based on a WhatsApp intimation, without issuing a valid notice as required under Section 41-A of the CrPC. Justice Praveer Bhatnagar emphasized that a WhatsApp message cannot substitute for proper legal notice, and the officer’s actions violated both statutory provisions and Supreme Court directions. Facts of the Case The…