Foundational criminal proceeding document registered under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure / Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita for cognizable offenses, required for insurance theft claims and judicial defense
Under Section 154(2) of the CrPC / Section 173(2) of BNSS, the Police Station Officer MUST hand over a signed physical copy of the registered FIR to the complainant immediately and free of charge. Demanding money for an FIR copy is a criminal violation.
đĄ A First Information Report (FIR) is the foundational written document prepared by the police when they receive information about the commission of a cognizable offense (such as theft, robbery, murder, or cyber financial fraud). Under the Supreme Court's mandatory ruling in Lalita Kumari (2014), the police MUST register an FIR if the complaint discloses a cognizable crime. The complainant is entitled to an immediate free signed copy.
Understanding the three fundamental police reporting instruments in India.
| Parameter | First Information Report (FIR) | Non-Cognizable Report (NCR) | Zero FIR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature of Offense | Cognizable Offenses (Theft, Robbery, Assault, Cyber Fraud, Murder) | Non-Cognizable Offenses (Lost phone/docs, simple defamation, minor verbal abuse) | Any Cognizable Offense occurring outside local jurisdiction |
| Police Investigation Powers | Police can investigate immediately and arrest without warrant | Police CANNOT investigate or arrest without a Magistrate's order | Police initiate basic inquiry, then transfer to jurisdictional station |
| Numbering Format | Serial number linked to the specific police station (e.g., FIR No. 45/2026) | Non-Cognizable Daily Diary Entry Number | Registered with number '0' (Zero) to indicate zero jurisdiction |
| Insurance & Legal Standing | Compulsory for total-loss vehicle insurance, court trials, and bail | Sufficient only for lost SIM cards, duplicate DL/RC, and lost passports | Equal to standard FIR; transferred via CCTNS |
Instant physical lodging at police stations; e-FIR lodged online within minutes; certified copy delivered within 24 to 48 hours.
100% Free of cost. Under Section 154(2) CrPC / Section 173(2) BNSS, the police are legally mandated to give a copy of the FIR to the complainant immediately, free of cost.
Any person who has knowledge of or has been a victim of a cognizable offense (offenses where police can arrest without a warrant). Zero FIR can be lodged at any police station across India regardless of territorial jurisdiction.
Victims and complainants of cognizable offenses (theft, vehicle theft, cyber fraud, burglary, assault, criminal breach of trust, fatal accidents); vehicle owners claiming total-loss insurance settlements from motor insurers; bank account holders disputing cyber fraud transactions with banks; and accused persons securing certified court copies for bail applications.
Visit the police station having territorial jurisdiction where the crime took place. If an emergency occurs away from home, you can lodge a 'Zero FIR' at any police station in India, which is later transferred to the concerned station.
Hand over your written, signed complaint to the Station House Officer (SHO) or Duty Officer. If you cannot write, dictate it orally; the police officer must write it down, read it back to you, and obtain your signature or thumb impression.
The officer records the information in the Crime Register / CCTNS digital portal, allotting a unique FIR Number (e.g., FIR No. 142/2026), stating the applicable Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) / Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Under Section 154(2) CrPC, collect your immediate free copy bearing the official police station round rubber seal and the Duty Officer's signature.
In compliance with Supreme Court orders in Youth Bar Association (2016), all state police forces upload FIRs to their official websites within 24 to 48 hours (except sensitive rape/national security cases). Enter the FIR Number and District to download the digital PDF.
If a local police station refuses to entertain your cognizable complaint, follow this statutory escalation hierarchy:
Send the substance of the information in writing by Registered Speed Post directly to the Superintendent of Police (SP) or Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). If satisfied, the SP will order an investigation.
If the SP fails to act, engage an advocate and file an application under Section 156(3) CrPC / Section 175(3) BNSS before the local Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) or Metropolitan Magistrate. The Magistrate will pass a judicial order commanding the police to register an FIR immediately.
Alternatively, you can file a direct private criminal complaint before the Magistrate, who will record your statement on oath and summon the accused.
Most state police departments (Delhi Police, UP Police, Tamil Nadu Police, Maharashtra Police) provide online e-FIR modules for non-heinous property offenses:
Open your state's portal or citizen app (e.g., Delhi Police Citizen Portal, UPCOP App, Citizen Portal Maharashtra).
Select the e-FIR module, authenticate with your mobile number and OTP, and enter your complainant profile.
Input vehicle registration number, chassis number, insurance policy details, exact parking spot, and time of theft.
The system automatically registers the e-FIR, assigns it to the local police station, and sends a downloadable PDF link to your phone via SMS.
Practical solutions when facing difficulties at police stations.
| Situation | Police Behavior | Recommended Immediate Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| Police officer claims 'Jurisdiction belongs to another police station' | Supreme Court Zero FIR directive | Insist on lodging a 'Zero FIR'. Under Ministry of Home Affairs advisories, the police station must register the Zero FIR and transfer the docket to the appropriate station electronically via CCTNS. |
| Cyber financial fraud happened online (UPI / Credit Card) | 1930 National Cybercrime Helpline | Immediately dial 1930 (Cyber Fraud Helpline) or report on cybercrime.gov.in within the 'Golden Hour' (first 2 hours). This automatically freezes the stolen money in the fraudster's bank account before an FIR is even typed. |
| Complainant is not given a copy of the registered FIR | Section 154(2) CrPC / Section 173(2) BNSS | Remind the Duty Officer that denying a free copy is a statutory violation. If still refused, download it directly from the state police portal within 24 hours using your mobile number. |
| Vehicle theft untraced report (Final Report) delayed by police | Section 173 CrPC Police Final Report (Untraced) | File an application before the Metropolitan / Judicial Magistrate requesting a direction to the investigating officer to expedite the 'Untraced Final Report' required for insurance settlement. |
No. Under the landmark Supreme Court constitutional bench judgment in Lalita Kumari v. Govt. of UP (2014), registration of an FIR is mandatory under Section 154 of the CrPC if the information discloses the commission of a cognizable offense. An officer refusing to register an FIR can face disciplinary action and criminal prosecution under Section 166A of the Indian Penal Code.
A Zero FIR is an FIR that can be registered at any police station in India, regardless of where the crime took place. The police station assigns it the serial number '0' (Zero), conducts preliminary steps, and immediately transfers the investigation docket to the appropriate jurisdictional police station.
The fee is 100% FREE. Section 154(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure / Section 173(2) of BNSS explicitly mandates that a copy of the information recorded as an FIR shall be given to the informant immediately, free of cost.
Visit your State Police Department's official web portal (e.g., delhi.police.gov.in, uppolice.gov.in, citizen.mahapolice.gov.in), navigate to 'View / Download FIR', enter the District, Police Station, FIR Number, and Year, and download the digitally signed PDF.
A Complaint is a written grievance submitted by a citizen alleging an offense. An FIR is the formal statutory document registered by the police after examining the complaint. A complaint only becomes an FIR once the police assign it an official FIR Number and register it in the state crime records.
Statutory foundation for recording information in cognizable cases and furnishing mandatory free copies to informants.
Checked on November 4, 2026
View Reference Document âAuthoritative ruling mandating compulsory registration of FIR for cognizable crimes and prescribing guidelines for preliminary inquiries.
Checked on November 4, 2026
View Reference Document âOfficial police acknowledgment report registered under Section 155 CrPC / Section 174 BNSS or State Lost Article Portals, mandatory for issuing duplicate SIM cards, lost Aadhaar/PAN cards, lost Indian Passports, and lost Driving Licences
Mandatory insurance for motor vehicles
Parivahan Vahan portal, RC transfer (Form 29/30), duplicate RC (Form 26), status check & DigiLocker e-RC
State CCTNS police verification portal, Gazetted Officer / school format, government job joining & PDF download
Guide to creating affidavits for various purposes
Official statutory professional license and Certificate of Enrolment (Sanad) issued under Section 22 of the Advocates Act, 1961 by the State Bar Council, followed by the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) Certificate of Practice (COP), legally entitling a law graduate to practice the profession of law and represent clients before all Indian courts and tribunals
Mandatory statutory pre-appointment verification dossier governed under DoPT guidelines and the landmark Supreme Court Avtar Singh ruling, filled in triplicate by selected candidates for Central (UPSC, SSC) and State Civil Services, detailing past 5-year residential history, educational background, and declaration of criminal antecedents or arrests
Registered supplementary legal instrument executed under Section 26 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 and the Registration Act, 1908 to formally correct bona fide clerical, typographical, numerical, or boundary description errors in a previously registered Sale Deed, Gift Deed, Lease, or Mortgage Deed without altering the original conveyance
Governed by Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (now Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 - BNSS). Operationalized via the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Digital Police Portal (CCTNS / MHA) â