Supreme Court: 24-hour arrest clock runs from detention, not formal arrest

The Supreme Court has ruled that the constitutionally mandated 24-hour window for producing an arrested person before a magistrate begins when the individual is detained, rather than when a formal arrest is recorded. The bench stressed that the timing requirement exists to protect personal liberty against prolonged, unrecorded custody. The judgment clarifies that law enforcement cannot delay the formal arrest entry to extend the period before the accused is presented in court. The decision is expected to guide police and lower courts on handling custody timelines in future cases.