India, March 29 -- The Madras high court has laid down a set of general guidelines to ensure that citizens are not harassed by the police under the guise of investigation, underscoring the need for procedural safeguards in criminal inquiries.

"This court, exercising its power under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), normally would not interfere with the investigation conducted by a police officer. Nevertheless, it would also not turn a blind eye to instances of harassment by the police under the guise of investigation when such matters are brought to its notice," stated a bench of justice GK Ilanthiraiyan.

The guidelines were issued by the judge in an order while hearing a petition filed by software firm Rippl...