Section 174(1) in The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1989 (1933 A. D.)
(1)The officer-incharge of a police station or some other police officer specially empowered by the [Government] [Substituted by Act XV of 2004 for 'High Court'.] in that behalf, on receiving information that a person-(a)has committed suicide ; or(b)has been killed by another, or by an animal, or by machinery, or by an accident ; or(c)has died under circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion that some other person has committed an offence, shall immediately give intimation thereof to the nearest magistrate empowered to hold inquests, and, unless otherwise directed by any rule-prescribed by the [Government] [Substituted by Act XV of 2004 for 'High Court'.] or by any general or special order of the District or Sub-Divisional Magistrate, shall proceed to the place where the body of such deceased person is, and there, in the presence of two or more respectable inhabitants of the neighbourhood, shall make an investigation, and draw up a report of the apparent cause of death, describing such wounds, fractures, burises and other marks of injury as may be found on the body, and stating in what manner, or by what weapon or instrument (if any), such marks appear to have been inflicted.
