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The FIR full form is First Information Report (प्रथम सूचना रिपोर्ट). It is the First written record or information about a serious or cognizable offences like Murder, Rape, Theft, and Kidnapping.
The Investigation Officer (IO) is given the responsibility to begin the investigation process. The officer visits the crime scene, collects evidence, records statements of witnesses, examines CCTV, and sends evidence for forensic verification reports.
By following the due process of law, the officer identifies the suspect and arrests the accused or culprit. The Investigating Officer usually prepares the case file and final report for further legal action.
Interestingly, an FIR can be filed by any individual who is aware of the crime, not necessarily by the victim. The police mention the date, time, place, name of accused people, nature of crime, and witness or evidence.
The person who provides the information to the police must provide their signature after the police confirms the FIR by reading it in front of the complainant. Afterwards, the police hand over a copy of an FIR to the victim or complainant and start their full fledged investigation.
An FIR is usually registered under section 173 of Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS, 2023).
Online FIR
- The state police department provides the online service for their citizen portal or CCTNS based facilities to lodge an FIR, track complaints and download a copy of an FIR.
- An online FIR is generally available for some offences like Cybercrime, Missing report, and some of the Non-Cognizable complaints.
- The complainant must provide their personal and other details such as date, time and place of crime. In case any wrong information is given by any individual, the police may take legal action against such people.
- After the final submission of the complaint, the web portal usually gives a reference number for tracking an online FIR status in future.
Note: A police officer cannot deny a First Information Report for a cognizable offence. The victim can complain to the Superintendent of Police or Magistrate in the case of refusal to lodge an FIR by the Police. It is interesting to know that a Zero FIR can be filed at any police station irrespective of any regional jurisdiction.
Zero FIR
- A Zero FIR can be registered at the time of an offence outside the jurisdiction of the police station where it was earlier reported.
- This FIR was labelled at the beginning as the number ‘0’ and later transferred to their appropriate police station.
- The main purpose of Zero FIR is to promptly register the serious crime or cognizable offence specially in cases of women, children, and accident.
- The police station which receives such information (FIR) maintains the record and further sends the FIR to start the investigation.
Steps to see FIR Online
| Steps | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Access State Web Portal |
|
| 2 | Locate FIR option | You need to click on ‘Citizen Services’ and select ‘View FIR or ‘Download e-FIR’. |
| 3 | Enter Search Details | You need to select the district, police station, and enter the FIR number with the year of filing. |
| 4 | Verification | You have to enter the complainant or victim's name or date of incident. |
| 5 | View or Download | You need to click on ‘search to view’ the digitized FIR document and download a PDF copy. |
Comparison of an FIR and a Complaint
| S.No. | Parameter | First Information Report (FIR) | Criminal Complaint |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Definition | It is information given to police with respect to a cognizable offence. | In a complaint, the allegation is noted orally or in writing to a Magistrate. |
| 2 | Filed To | An FIR is filed to an officer in charge of a police station. | It is filed to a Metropolitan or Judicial Magistrate. |
| 3 | Type of Offence | An FIR is limited to Cognizable offences only. | A Complaint comprises both Cognizable and Non-Cognizable offences. |
| 4 | Initial Action | The police immediately begin an investigation without court orders. | The magistrate verifies the complainant and decides whether to take cognizance. |
| 5 | Need of a Warrant | In case of an FIR, the police may arrest the accused person without a warrant. | In case of the complaint, the police require a magistrate warrant for non-cognizable arrests. |
| 6 | Legal Provision | Section 173 of BNSS, 2023. | Section 2(h) of BNSS, 2023. |
Other Important Related Acronyms
| S.No. | Acronym | Full Form |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CCTNS | Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems |
| 2 | CrPC | Code of Criminal Procedure |
| 3 | BNSS | Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita |
| 4 | BNS | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita |
| 5 | IPC | Indian Penal Code |
| 6 | NCRB | National Crime Records Bureau |
| 7 | POCSO | Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act |
FAQs about FIR
What is the full form of FIR?
The FIR full form is First Information Report (प्रथम सूचना रिपोर्ट).
What is FIR?
An FIR is the 1st written police record of information with respect to a cognizable offence after which the police start their investigation.
What is Zero FIR?
It is an FIR that can be filed at any police station in India irrespective of the jurisdiction.
How to file an FIR online?
You need to visit the state police web portal. After successful login, you need to select an online FIR facility, and submit your details.
