How to file and register an FIR online

What is an FIR?

An FIR or a First Information Report is a document that is prepared by police consisting of information regarding the (alleged) commission of a cognizable offense. The information regarding the commission of such an offense is generally given to the Police, by the victim, by any friend or relative of the victim, or any other person who has the knowledge of the commission of that offense.

What is the object of filling an FIR?

The main object of lodging an FIR from the point of view of the police is to obtain the necessary information of the alleged offense so as to trace the offender who may have committed the said offense. The object of filing an FIR from the point of view of the informant/victim/relative of the victim is the set the criminal law in motion. FIR is the first step to legal action/justice in a criminal case (mostly for cognizable cases).

What Is The Time Limit For Filing An E-FIR?

As soon as the offence is committed, it is recommended to file an electronic First Information Report (e-FIR). The police officer must be given a thorough explanation for any delay in submitting a formal complaint, as this could give rise to suspicion.

Who Is Eligible To File An E-FIR?

It may be filed by the individual who is the victim of the offence, by anybody who witnessed the offence being committed, or by someone who knows that the crime has been committed. It is only possible to file a FIR or e-FIR for crimes that are legally recognised. Crimes including murder, rape, theft, and other crimes that are not subject to an arrest warrant are known as cognizable offences.

Information in Cognizable Cases:-(Under Section 154 Cr. P.C.)

Any information related to the commission of a crime that is given orally to the Officer-in-Charge of a Police Station shall be written down by him or under his direction, and the informant shall be given the opportunity to review it. All information, whether written down or given orally, shall bear the signature of the person providing it, and the content shall be recorded in a book kept by the Officer in the format that the State Government may specify. An immediate, cost-free copy of the data as documented under sub-section (1) must be sent to the informant. Anyone who feels wronged by a police station officer's refusal to record information mentioned in subsection (1) may submit the information in question, in writing and via postal mail, to the superintendent of police in question. If the superintendent is convinced that the information reveals the commission of a crime, he will either look into the matter personally or assign another officer to look into it in accordance with this code. In the latter case, the officer will have all the authority of a police station officer in relation to the crime.

Information as to Non-Cognizable Cases:-(Under Section 155 Cr. P.C.)

When a police station's Officer-in-Charge receives information about a non-cognizable offence committed within the station's boundaries, he or she must record the information's main points in a book that the officer will keep in a format determined by the State Government. The informant will then be referred to the magistrate. Without a magistrate's order, no police officer can investigate a non-cognizable case a magistrate has the authority to try the case or commit it for trial. With the exception of the authority to make an arrest without a warrant, any police officer who receives such an order may conduct the investigation with the same authority as an officer-in-charge of a police station in a case that is subject to legal action. In situations where a case involves multiple offences, provided that at least one of them is cognizable, it will be considered cognizable even if the remaining offences are not.

E-filing or Online filing of an FIR

Initially, the prospect of registering an FIR in a police station would make people break into a sweat as the process was considered tedious and the fear of police harassment. When you approach the police station, you are required to file a First Information Report (FIR ) or a complaint. This document record's the complainant's perspective on the crime committed. The procedure for filing an FIR is mentioned under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. For the police, earlier the process of registering of an FIR for each case would take up a lot of time and energy for the staff. Most police stations are understaffed and overburdened with paperwork, so basic public response and courtesy get overlooked, leading to people complaining of police rudeness and apathy.

Now the police departments in different states have introduced an online system to register a First Information Report, check the status, and track it. This saves time, and money and most of all, is free of any harassment and with a large percentage of FIRs now being filed online, the police staff has been freed of public pressure which in turn ensures a better FIR follow-up and quicker response to complaints filed. Not only this, the complainant/victim has an option to file an FIR easily by using a computer/phone and internet connection. Detailed procedures to file an FIR online in a few major states have been stated below:

Delhi

Step 1- Go to the Delhi Police Official Website . Step 2- At home, many things will be given like helpline no., lost report, Women's safety app, Police clearance certificate, and Character verification report. Delhi police online FIR registration for lost articles or documents you have to go to the option & lsquo Lost & Found. Step 3 - Below the & lsquo Lost Report,' four options will be given- 1. Retrieve 2. Register 3. Search found articles 4. FAQ. Select the option & lsquo Register'. Step 4- A whole new page will be opened for Delhi police online FIR registration. You have to fill up the blanks with your details as well as your lost article's details. The following options will be there-

• Complainant's Name- Fill in the name of the person who wants to lodge the E-FIR.

• Father's/Mother's Name- Fill in the complainant's parents' name.

• Complainant's Address- Where the complainant is residing (Required full address).

• Complainant's Mobile number- Complainant's working mobile number.

• The complainant's email ID- will be needed because a copy of your e-FIR will be sent to you via email for verification.

• Place of Loss in Delhi- Fill in the particular details about where your article was lost in Delhi.

• Date of Loss- If you don't know the date, then you fill it with a guess but the filling of month and year is mandatory.

• Time of Loss- If you remembered the time of loss then fill it. However, it is not mandatory.

• Lost Articles- Fill in the name of the article you have lost.

• Description- The basic details of the lost article.

• ADD- by clicking on ADD the details will be attached to the file.

• Any Other Details- Any other specific detail you want to highlight then fill in this blank.

Step 5- Fill in the Code given after all the above details. Step 6- Recheck the details and click the & lsquo Submit' button. Step 7- Now check your email ID for you will receive a copy of your e-FIR in PDF form in your inbox. Take a printout of that report.

Mumbai

Step 1: Go to the Official Website of the Mumbai Police

Step 2: Fill up the Mumbai Police Complaint Form Please note that your Email Address will be used to get an OTP (One-time Password) which will be used to authorize you to finally accept your Complaint. Please click on the & lsquo Submit' button once you finish filling up the complaint form. The following information needs to be submitted in the complaint form

• Police station name

• Subject

• Complaint type

• Name

• Address

• City

• Postal code

• Phone No

• Email id

• Authorized code

• Your complaint

Step 3: Making a Note of your Complaint Number/ FIR Number As soon as you click on Submit, your Complaint Number/FIR Number will be generated. Please make a note of your Complaint Number for all future references.

Kolkata

Step 1 & ndash Go to the Official Website of the Kolkata Police

Step 2 & ndash Go to the “ Report a crime” menu Step 3 & ndash Fill in the information asked in the menu

• Details about the crime

• Address

• Police Station

• E-Mail

• Security code

Step 4 & ndash Hit on the send button. Your complaint will be registered with Kolkata Police. You will receive an e-mail confirmation to your email account.

Chennai

Step 1 - Visit the Official Website of the Tamil Nadu Police Station.

Step 2 - Choose the option information if you want to file FIR, or choose the option complaints if you want to file a police complaint online, from the online services box. Step 3 - File FIR/complaint accordingly.

Uttar Pradesh

• To submit an online FIR, go to the UP Police's official website.

• Locate the & quot Citizen Services& quot area through the menu on the website.

• Selecting the & quot E-FIR& quot option will take you to the CCTNS webpage.

• On this screen, you may choose to register for a FIR or log in.

• After that, get your login ID and password by completing the CCTNS portal registration process.

• Later, visit the login page again and log in with the supplied User ID and Password.

• Submit the necessary information to complete the FIR while being supervised by the in charge of the e-police station.

• After that, the online FIR verification procedure will start. The authorised FIR data will be sent to you by email or SMS. The pdf of the same can also be downloaded from your mail

How do I view the status of my online FIR in Uttar Pradesh?

• Visit the UP Police official website and choose your preferred login ID and password right from the home screen.

• Click the login button after entering the captcha code.

• This will then bring up the Citizen Dashboard page on your screen.

• Through this page, you can access any service offered by the UP Police Department.

• On the screen, select the FIR and FIR Application Form.

• After completing the form with the FIR number, district, police station, and year, click the submit button.

• You will be able to read and print the information related to the filed FIR that is displayed on your screen.

Bangalore

• Download the Karnataka State Police app from the Play Store to lodge an online FIR in Bangalore.

• Choose the category and subcategory of the lost item when you click on & quot New Report& quot after creating an account or logging in with your email address.

• Enter the item's data, the location details, the time that you misplaced the item, and your personal information.

• Press the & quot Submit& quot button, then watch for the message confirming your submission.

• A reference number and an eReport will be sent to you by text and email.

• Use the online eFIR report to apply for duplicate papers or make an insurance claim.

• You can also see how your report is progressing: After selecting & quot Retrieve,& quot enter the reference number.

Advantages of Filing E-FIR

• Ease of Registration: People can easily register complaints online without having to go to a police station, thanks to online FIRs.

• Decreased Fear: Individuals who are anxious or afraid to visit a police station can now conveniently register a police report online from the comfort of their own homes.

• Empowering Women: Women now have an easy way to report crimes and atrocities they may encounter thanks to the online FIR system.

• Reducing Police Negligence: By registering online, you reduce the possibility of police avoidance and negligence.

• Convenience: Visits to the police station are no longer necessary when filing an electronic police report (E-FIR).

• Speedy: Police and complainants can communicate more quickly thanks to online FIRs, which could shorten the time it takes to resolve cases.

• Efficiency: E-FIRs produce digital records that are readily available and expedite the reporting process.

Disadvantages of Filing E-FIR

• Fake Accusations: Some people may be able to lie to the authorities or make fake accusations by filing documents online.

• Excessive Numbers: An excessive number of instances may result from too many persons filing FIRs online.

• Difficulty in Verification: A large proportion of complaints in India remain unsubstantiated, which makes it difficult to discern genuine cases from online formal complaints.

• Targeting Particular Groups: It is simpler to target particular groups when online FIRs are utilised improperly for political or caste-driven purposes.

• Restricted Accessibility: The online FIR approach is not available to people who do not have internet access, do not live in distant places, or do not have an internet connection.

• Lack of Human engagement: Misunderstandings and insufficient knowledge may result from a lack of in-person engagement.

• Security concerns: concerns over the privacy and security of information shared online, particularly when it comes to sensitive personal information.
   

Why do you need a Lawyer?

An experienced attorney can give you expert advice on how to handle your criminal legal problem owing to his/her years of experience in handling such criminal cases. A criminal lawyer is an expert on the laws and can help you avoid significant mistakes that may cause further harm or will require future legal proceedings to correct. Thus, by hiring an attorney you can ensure avoid delay and can seek justice quickly. A good criminal lawyer will guide you in the right direction, depending upon the facts and circumstances of your case. Even if the FIR is against you, or if you need bail or need to be represented in front of the Court, it is a must that you hire a criminal advocate. You can also ask a lawyer online a free legal question using LawRato's Ask a Free Question service.

Advocate Chikirsha Mohanty

4.0 | 2+ user ratings Greater Kailash - 1, Delhi
5 years

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