Legal & Judicial Services#118

Understanding FIR / Non-Cognizable Report (NCR) filing

File an FIR or NCR at the police station when you are a victim of a cognizable offence or have lost documents.

At a glance

Jurisdiction

All of India — local police station having territorial jurisdiction over the place where the offence occurred; state police CCTNS portals for online filing

Who applies

Any person who is a victim of, or witness to, a cognizable offence (FIR) or a non-cognizable offence (NCR / NC Report) wishing to inform the police

Typical time

FIR must be registered immediately at the police station; the police officer has no right to delay or refuse. NCR may be registered same day.

Fee

Free — no fee for FIR or NCR registration

Who should use this process

✓FIR (First Information Report): For cognizable offences where police can arrest without a warrant — e.g., theft, robbery, assault, murder, rape, cheating, cybercrime
✓NCR (Non-Cognizable Report): For non-cognizable offences where police cannot arrest without a magistrate's order — e.g., minor assault (simple hurt), public nuisance, minor fraud
✓Any person — victim, witness, or any person knowing about the offence — can file an FIR
✓FIR can be filed orally (the officer must reduce it to writing and read it back to the informant) or in writing
✓Zero FIR: An FIR can be lodged at any police station regardless of jurisdiction; the station then transfers it to the correct jurisdiction. This is called a Zero FIR and must be registered immediately

Who does NOT need to apply

✕A Complaint (not FIR) is filed for non-cognizable offences where the Magistrate takes cognizance; police can only register an NCR for such offences
✕Anonymous complaints are not treated as FIRs; the complainant must identify themselves for an FIR to be registered

Documents required

#	Document	Type needed	Purpose
1	Written complaint (optional but advisable)	Original	Typed or handwritten account of the offence including date, time, place, description of the offence, details of accused (if known), and evidence available; read by the Station House Officer before registering FIR
2	Identity proof of Complainant (Aadhaar / Voter ID / Passport)	Self-attested Copy	Establishes the complainant's identity; required for online FIR portals and helpful for follow-up
3	Supporting evidence (if available)(optional)Not mandatory at the time of FIR registration but significantly assists investigation	Original	Photographs, CCTV footage (in device or pen drive), screenshots (for cybercrime), medical reports (for assault), receipts or cheques (for financial fraud), or any documentary proof of the offence
4	Medical certificate / MLC report(optional)Required in cases involving physical injury or sexual assault	Original	Medico-Legal Case (MLC) report from a government hospital; mandatory in cases of physical assault, accident injury, or rape — issued by the hospital before FIR is filed

Original documents: Carry originals only for in-person visits — do not hand them over permanently unless explicitly required.

Step-by-step guide

1
Visit the jurisdictional police station (or any station for Zero FIR)
Both
Go to the police station that has territorial jurisdiction over the area where the offence occurred. If you are unsure or are in a different city, you can file a Zero FIR at any police station — it will be transferred to the correct station. For serious offences, also call 112 (Emergency Response) or 100 (Police helpline) immediately. For cybercrime, report at cybercrime.gov.in online before filing an FIR.
ImmediateStation House Officer (SHO) / Duty Officerhttps://www.cybercrime.gov.in
2
Give your complaint orally or in writing to the SHO
Offline
Approach the Station House Officer (SHO) or the duty officer and state the facts of the offence clearly. If filing orally, the officer must reduce it to writing, read it to you, and obtain your signature or thumb impression. If filing in writing, hand over your written complaint. The officer has no legal right to refuse to register an FIR for a cognizable offence — if refused, escalate to DSP/SP.
30 minutes to 2 hoursStation House Officer (SHO)
3
Review FIR and sign
Offline
The officer reads out the FIR to you after recording it. Verify that the contents are accurate and complete. Sign or affix your thumb impression. Ensure the offence section (IPC / BNS or special law) is correctly noted. Demand a free copy of the FIR — the police are legally required to give you a free copy of the FIR immediately upon registration (Section 154(2) CrPC / Section 173(2) BNSS).
30 minutesStation House Officer (SHO)
4
Collect FIR copy and note the FIR number
Both
The FIR is assigned a unique number (station name + year + serial number). Collect the free copy of the FIR and preserve it. The FIR number is required for all follow-ups, status tracking, and court proceedings. In many states, FIR copies are also available online via the state police portal using the FIR number.
ImmediateStation House Officer (SHO)
5
Escalation if police refuse to register FIR
Both
If the SHO refuses to register an FIR for a cognizable offence, you have legal remedies: (a) Send the complaint by post to the Superintendent of Police (SP) who can direct FIR registration (Section 154(3) CrPC / Section 173(4) BNSS); (b) File a complaint directly before the Judicial Magistrate who can take cognizance and direct police to register FIR; (c) Use the state's online FIR portal if available; (d) File a complaint with the State Police Complaints Authority or Human Rights Commission for police misconduct.
1–7 daysSuperintendent of Police (SP) / Judicial Magistrate

Government officers involved

Station House Officer (SHO)

State Police

Steps 2–4 — receiving complaint, recording FIR, and issuing copy

In-charge of the police station; legally obligated to record FIR for cognizable offences; assigns investigation to a Sub-Inspector or Inspector

Superintendent of Police (SP) / Deputy SP

State Police (District level)

Step 5 — escalation if FIR is refused

Can direct the SHO to register an FIR upon receipt of a written complaint from the victim

Judicial Magistrate

District Court / Judiciary

Step 5 — escalation via court

Can take cognizance of an offence and direct police to register FIR and investigate under Section 190 CrPC / BNSS

Government portals

National Cybercrime Reporting Portal

https://www.cybercrime.gov.in

Reporting cybercrime (online fraud, ransomware, social media crime, child exploitation) online before or instead of a police station visit; generates a complaint number that can be converted to an FIR

eCourts Services

https://ecourts.gov.in

Tracking case status if the FIR leads to filing of a charge sheet and trial in court

Things to watch out for

Police cannot refuse to register FIR for a cognizable offence

Section 154 CrPC (now Section 173 BNSS, 2023) mandates registration of every information relating to a cognizable offence. Refusal is a criminal misconduct. If refused, send a written complaint to the SP by registered post — this is treated as an FIR itself.

FIR is not an investigation — it only initiates one

Filing an FIR does not automatically lead to arrest or justice. It triggers a police investigation. Follow up regularly with the Investigating Officer (IO) assigned to your case. Request a progress report from the SHO if investigation stalls.

Be accurate and complete in your statement

False or exaggerated FIRs can lead to prosecution for filing a false case under Section 182 IPC (now Section 223 BNS). Conversely, omitting key facts weakens the case. State all facts truthfully and as precisely as possible.

Preserve digital evidence before reporting cybercrime

For online fraud, take screenshots of transactions, chats, and websites before accounts are deleted. Bank fraud should be reported to your bank's cybercrime helpline (1930) immediately to freeze the fraudulent transaction before filing an FIR.

Time is critical for financial fraud — call 1930 immediately

The National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) can freeze a fraudulently transferred amount within hours if reported quickly. Every hour of delay reduces the chance of recovery. Call 1930 first, then file on cybercrime.gov.in, then visit the police station.