Section 25 of Madras District Police Act, 1865

Superior Officer of Police may take recognizance for appearance of prosecutor or witness.—It shall be lawful for every Police Officer in charge of a Station, or other superior Officer of Police, to bind by recognizance any person to appear as prosecutor or as a witness before the Magistrate by whom any grave charge in being or is about to be investigated ; and if any such prosecutor or witness shall refuse to execute such recognizance, it shall be competent to such Officer to forward the person in custody to the Magistrate’s Court.