पुलिस शिकायत पत्र

A complaint is the information you give the police. When it reveals a cognizable offence, such as theft, grievous hurt, or cheating that dishonestly induces delivery of property, the police record it as a First Information Report, which formally starts the investigation. If the offence is non-cognizable, the police enter it in a register and you may be directed to approach the Magistrate instead.

Yes, for cognizable offences. Under the zero FIR rule, any police station must register the FIR even if the incident happened elsewhere, and then transfer it to the police station with jurisdiction. In practice, filing at the station covering the place of the incident usually leads to faster action.

Send the substance of your complaint in writing to the Superintendent of Police by post, which is the mode section 173(4) BNSS provides, and keep the postal receipt. If that also fails, you can apply to the Judicial Magistrate under section 175(3) BNSS for a direction to investigate, or file a private complaint under section 223 BNSS.

Most state police departments have citizen portals where you can file complaints, and many accept e-FIRs for certain offences such as theft of property. Under the BNSS, an e-FIR must be signed by the informant within three days for it to be taken on record. For cyber crime, use the national cybercrime portal.

Yes. Section 193(3)(ii) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 requires the police officer to inform the informant or the victim of the progress of the investigation within ninety days, by any means including electronic communication. Section 193(3)(iii) also requires the officer to communicate the action taken to the person who first gave the information, in the manner set by State rules. Keep your FIR number and contact details with the station so the update can reach you.

Offences punishable with more than three years' imprisonment have no limitation period under the BNSS. For lesser offences, section 514 BNSS bars a court from taking cognizance after six months if the offence is punishable with fine only, one year if punishable with imprisonment up to one year, and three years if punishable with imprisonment above one year up to three years. Under section 515 the period runs from the date of the offence, or from the day it first became known to you or the police, and under the Explanation to section 514 it is counted up to the date the police record the information under section 173 or a complaint is filed before the Magistrate under section 223. Section 519 lets a court proceed after the limit if the delay is properly explained or it is needed in the interests of justice, so explaining any delay in the complaint itself is useful.

Giving a public servant information you know or believe to be false, intending the police to use their powers to harm or annoy someone, is punishable under section 217 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 with up to one year's imprisonment, a fine up to Rs 10,000, or both. Starting criminal proceedings against a person, or falsely charging a person with an offence, with intent to injure that person and knowing there is no just or lawful ground, is punishable under section 248 BNS with up to five years' imprisonment, a fine up to Rs 2 lakh, or both. Where the false charge is of an offence punishable with death, life imprisonment or ten years or more, the punishment can extend to ten years, with fine. State only what you know, and say which details you heard from others.