For decades, getting an FIR registered meant physically reaching the "right" police station and hoping the officer agreed to write it down. Since 1 July 2024 the FIR lives in Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which lets you report a cognizable offence electronically, at any police station, whatever the jurisdiction.
Under Section 173 BNSS you can report a cognizable offence orally, in writing or electronically, at any police station regardless of jurisdiction — and if the police refuse, you escalate to the Superintendent of Police and then to a Magistrate.
The bottom line
Zero FIR: report at any police station, even if the offence happened elsewhere. It is registered with serial number "0" and forwarded to the station with jurisdiction.
e-FIR: information given electronically must be signed by the informant within three days to be formally recorded.
If refused: Section 173(4) takes it to the Superintendent of Police, and Section 175(3) takes it to a Magistrate. A free copy of the FIR is your right, and the victim's.
What an FIR is
The first recorded information the police receive about a cognizable offence — one serious enough that they can investigate and arrest without a court's prior permission. Theft, robbery, assault, rape, murder and serious fraud are all cognizable.
For non-cognizable offences, which are the minor matters, the police record information differently and generally need a Magistrate's order before investigating.
The FIR is what sets the machine in motion: evidence gathered, statements recorded, and eventually a police report filed before the Magistrate.
Zero FIR
The statutory backing for the Zero FIR is among the more useful reforms in the new code.
You can report a cognizable offence at any police station, even where the crime occurred outside that station's area. It is registered with serial number "0" and forwarded to the station that has jurisdiction, which re-registers and investigates it.
This ends the old runaround where victims were turned away on jurisdiction — a delay that mattered most in exactly the urgent cases where it was used.
Filing electronically
The BNSS recognises information given by electronic communication, so you can lodge it online.
The rule to remember is that an electronically filed report must be signed by the informant within three days to be officially taken on record. States are rolling this out through their police citizen portals, so the exact facility and the categories of offence available vary.
How to file online
- Go to your state police's official website and find the Citizen Services, Complaint or e-FIR section.
- Register or log in with your mobile number and basic details.
- Select the complaint type and fill in the incident details: what happened, when, where and who was involved.
- Upload any evidence — photographs, documents, screenshots.
- Submit, and note the complaint or reference number.
- Sign within three days where the process requires it, so the e-FIR is formally recorded.
Save the acknowledgement and reference number the moment you submit. It is your proof that you reported and your handle for every follow-up afterwards.
Cybercrime has its own national channel. Online fraud and financial cybercrime go through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and helpline 1930 rather than the state portal.
What to say in it
Give a clear factual account: the date, time and place; what happened; the identity or description of those involved; any witnesses; and the loss or harm caused.
Stick to what you know. You do not need to name an accused — "unknown persons" is perfectly valid, and establishing who did it is the investigation's job rather than yours.
If the police refuse
The law is firmly on your side here, and refusal is not the end of the matter.
- Escalate to the Superintendent of Police under Section 173(4), in writing and by post if necessary. If the SP is satisfied that a cognizable offence is disclosed, they must have it investigated.
- Approach the Magistrate under Section 175(3) if that fails, asking the court to direct the police to register and investigate.
A public servant who refuses to record information about a cognizable offence can face penal consequences. And the Supreme Court in Lalita Kumari v. Government of Uttar Pradesh settled that registration is mandatory once the information discloses a cognizable offence, with only limited room for a preliminary inquiry in certain cases carrying 3 to 7 year sentences.
Your rights when filing
- A free copy of the FIR, given to both the informant and the victim.
- Report from anywhere, because Zero FIR removes the jurisdiction barrier.
- Protection for vulnerable informants — for certain offences against women, information is to be recorded by a woman officer, and for persons with disabilities, at their residence or a place of their choice, with support.
- No fixed time limit to file, though reporting promptly strengthens the case, since unexplained delay gets questioned later.
A worked example
A traveller's phone and wallet are stolen on a train passing through three states. Under the old system each station might have pointed her elsewhere.
Now she walks into the nearest police station, registers a Zero FIR for theft, and collects her free copy. The FIR is forwarded to the jurisdictional station for investigation. She also files an online complaint and keeps the reference number for her insurance claim.
No jurisdictional runaround, and a documentary trail from the first day.
Common mistakes
- Accepting a refusal. You can escalate to the Superintendent of Police and then to a Magistrate.
- Not collecting your free copy, which is both your right and your record.
- Vague details. Dates, times and specifics are what make an investigation workable.
- Using the wrong channel for cybercrime. Online fraud goes to cybercrime.gov.in and 1930.
- Forgetting to sign an e-FIR within three days, without which it may never be formally recorded.
A working checklist
- Establish whether the offence is cognizable.
- Use your state police portal, or cybercrime.gov.in for online fraud.
- Give clear factual incident details and upload the evidence.
- Note the reference number, and sign within three days where required.
- Collect your free copy of the FIR.
- If refused, escalate to the SP, then the Magistrate.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file an FIR online in India? Yes. Section 173 BNSS allows electronic reporting, and states offer e-FIR facilities through their police portals. Cybercrime has a dedicated national portal.
What is a Zero FIR? An FIR registered at any police station regardless of where the crime occurred, then transferred to the station with jurisdiction.
Is there a time limit? No fixed limit, though filing promptly is advisable because long delays get questioned during the case.
What if the police refuse? Escalate to the Superintendent of Police under Section 173(4), and if needed approach a Magistrate under Section 175(3).
Do I get a copy? Yes, free of cost, to both the informant and the victim.
Do I need to know who did it? No. Reporting against unknown persons is entirely normal, and identifying them is what the investigation is for.