circumstances of each particular case, but it should be at
least founded on some definite fact tending to throw
suspicion on the person arrested and not on a mere vague
surmise.
The court also observed:
“The ‘reasonable suspicion’ and ‘credible information’
must relate to definite averments, which must be
considered by the police officer himself before he
arrests a person under this provision. What is a
‘reasonable suspicion’ must depend upon the
circumstances of each particular case, but it should be
at least founded on some definite fact tending to throw
suspicion on the person arrested and not on a mere
vague surmise.
The words ‘credible’ and ‘reasonable’ used in the first
clause of Section 54 must have reference to the mind
of' the person receiving the information which must
afford sufficient materials for the exercise of an
independent judgment at the time of making the
arrest. In other words, the police officer upon receipt of
such information must have definite and bona fide
belief that an offence has been committed or is about
to be committed, necessitating the arrest of the person
concerned. A bare assertion without anything more
cannot form the material for the exercise of an
independent judgment and will not therefore amount
to credible information.”
32