DEVARAPALLl LAKSHMINARAYANA REDDY & ORS. vs V.NARAYANA REDDY & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that the powers conferred on a Magistrate under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, to order police investigation are distinct from those under Section 202(1). The Court clarified that Section 156(3) can be invoked before cognizance is taken, while Section 202(1) applies post-cognizance. The appeal was dismissed, affirming that the Magistrate's action in forwarding the complaint for investigation was valid and did not contravene the provisions of the Code.