Section 248: Fingerprints.

(1) Whenever any person prosecuted and charged before any Court with an offence involving fraud, dishonesty or violence, then, and in every such case, whether such offence is to be tried summarily or on information, or whether the said person has or has not been admitted to bail, it shall be lawful for a Police Officer of or above the rank of Assistant Superintendent or the constable for the time being in charge of a Police Station, if he is of the opinion that there are grounds for suspecting that such person has been previously convicted or has been engaged in crime, or that from any other case his photographs, measurements, thumbprints and fingerprints are required for the purposes of justice, to cause to be taken for use and record such photographs, measurements' thumbprints and fingerprints of the said person as such Police Officer or the constable for the time being in charge of a Police Station, shall think fit: Provided that if no conviction of the said person shall follow as a result of, or in connection with, such said prosecution, then, and in every such case, the photographs of the said person shall, together with the records of his measurements, thumbprints and fingerprints, be handed over to him or if this is not possible, be destroyed. (2) A Police Officer of or above the rank of Assistant Superintendent or the constable for the time being in charge of a Police Station is hereby authorised and empowered to take all such necessary action and do all such things as the proper and efficient execution of the provisions of this section may reasonably require. (3) Where a thumbprint or a fingerprint is likely to become an exhibit in a criminal case any constable may take for comparison the thumbprints and fingerprints of any person who is reasonably suspected of having made that thumbprint or fingerprint. (4) Any person who shall refuse to submit to the taking and recording of his photographs, measurements, thumbprints or fingerprints shall be taken before a Magistrate who, on being satisfied that such person has been prosecuted and charged before any court with an offence involving fraud, dishonesty or violence or is reasonably suspected of having made a thumbprint or fingerprint likely to become an exhibit in a criminal case, shall make such order as he thinks fit, authorising a constable to take the measurements, photographs, thumbprints and fingerprints of such person. Arrest, etc., of Member of Parliament or public officer to be reported.