Drafting a criminal complaint used to be a familiar exercise—identify facts, choose the correct IPC sections, frame allegations, and file. In 2024+, that comfort zone no longer exists. With the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) replacing the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC), every complaint must now speak the language of BNS, not IPC.
The biggest risk in complaint drafting today is simple:
using the right facts with the wrong statute.
This is why an IPC to BNS Converter has become the starting point of modern criminal complaint drafting.
Why Complaints Are Most Sensitive to Section Errors
A criminal complaint is the foundation of the entire prosecution. If the sections are wrong:
police investigation gets misdirected
ingredients of offence are misunderstood
charges may be framed incorrectly
the accused gets technical advantages
Unlike arguments, a complaint cannot be casually “corrected later.” The initial section selection shapes the whole case.
What Has Changed After BNS
Many lawyers assume BNS is only a renumbered IPC. That is not true. Under BNS:
several offences are reworded
some provisions are merged or split
punishments are restructured
new terminology is introduced
Therefore, copying an old IPC-based complaint and merely changing the year is dangerous.
How an IPC to BNS Converter Helps in Complaint Drafting
A reliable converter allows you to:
✔ start with the familiar IPC section from facts
✔ instantly locate the correct BNS provision
✔ verify ingredients under the new wording
✔ draft allegations in BNSS/BNS-compliant language
This turns guesswork into a verified legal process.
Step-by-Step Workflow for Drafting Complaints
Step 1 – Analyse Facts in Plain Language
List what actually happened:
acts committed
intention/knowledge
injury or loss
surrounding circumstances
Do not think in sections yet.
Step 2 – Identify Traditional IPC Reference
Based on experience, you may feel:
“This looks like IPC 323”
“Elements of IPC 420 are present”
Use that as the starting clue—not the final answer.
Step 3 – Convert IPC → BNS Before Writing
Enter the IPC section into the converter to:
find the corresponding BNS section
check if ingredients differ
confirm punishment bracket
Only after this, begin drafting the legal paragraphs.
Step 4 – Frame Allegations in BNS Language
Your complaint should:
describe facts
link them to BNS ingredients
avoid outdated IPC terminology
use current statutory expressions
Example style:
“The acts of the accused constitute an offence under Section ___ of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, corresponding to the earlier Section ___ IPC.”
Step 5 – Final Verification
Before filing, ensure:
every section mentioned is BNS
punishments quoted are from BNS
no leftover IPC references remain
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Copy-paste IPC templates
Old formats often miss new elements.
Mixing IPC & BNS randomly
This confuses police and courts.
Ignoring changed ingredients
What proved an IPC offence may not satisfy BNS wording.
Wrong punishment references
Sentencing ranges have been revised in many provisions.
Special Situations
Complaints Based on Old Incidents
Even if the incident is old:
investigation today follows new framework
courts expect BNS awareness
mapping should be clearly mentioned
Private Complaints Before Magistrate
Cognizance orders must rest on current law; hence BNS sections are essential.
Why Young Lawyers Need This Most
Juniors usually draft the first version of complaints. An IPC to BNS converter helps them:
avoid senior’s red-pen corrections
prepare court-ready documents
answer judicial queries confidently
learn the new penal code while working
Role of Legal-Tech Platforms
Tools like VakilMitraAI integrate IPC → BNS conversion directly into drafting workflow, enabling lawyers to:
generate correct sections in seconds
maintain uniformity across complaints
reduce research time
stay compliant with new criminal laws
The New Standard of Complaint Drafting
A good criminal complaint in 2024+ must be:
factually strong
procedurally correct
BNS-accurate
Section accuracy is no longer a formality—it is the backbone of the case.
Final Takeaway
The era of writing “IPC 323/504/506” without verification is over.
Before drafting any criminal complaint:
Convert first → Draft next → File confidently.
An IPC to BNS Converter is now as essential as the complaint format itself.Feel free to refer to our IPC to BNS Converter
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