First Information Report (FIR):

 

F.I.R. is the abbreviated form of First Information Report. It is the information recorded by the police officer on duty, given either by the aggrieved person or any other person about the commission of an alleged offence. On the basis of the F.I.R. the police commences its investigation.

 

Who can file an F.I.R.

 

Any person can file an F.I.R. He need not be the aggrieved person. It may be merely hearsay and need not be by the person who has had firsthand knowledge of the facts.

 

Where to file an F.I.R.

 

An F.I.R. can be filed in the police station of the concerned area in whose jurisdiction the offence has occurred. It must be made to the officer-in-charge of the police station and if he is not available the Assistant Sub Inspector is competent to enter upon the investigation

 

How to file an F.I.R.

 

When a wrong has been committed and the aggrieved person or any other person wants to file a F.I.R. it shall be filed in the following manner.

 

  1. Go to the police station and meet the officer-in-charge.
  2. Step by step in an orderly sequence narrate to the officer every information relating to the commission of the offence.
  3. The officer shall reduce the information given in writing.
  4. The information given shall be signed by the person giving it.
  5. The information given shall be entered in a book to be kept by the officer.

 

Copy of the information as recorded shall be given free of cost to the informant.

 

Where an officer-in-charge refuses to record the information

 

If the officer in charge refuses to record the information, the information may be sent in writing and by post, to the Superintendent of Police concerned who, if satisfied that such information discloses the commission of a cognizable offence, shall either investigate the case himself or direct an investigation to be made by any police officer subordinate to him.

 

Investigation

 

Once the F.I.R. has been registered the investigation in the case shall begin.

 

Investigation By Police:

 

In criminal proceedings once a Police Officer receives information about the commission of an offence he is entitled to start investigation of the matter. Investigation includes all the proceedings of collection of evidence conducted by a police officer or by any person who is authorized by the Magistrate in his behalf.

 

Your rights

 

  1. No male under the age of fifteen years or woman shall be required to attend at any place other than where they reside.
  2. The police officer shall orally examine the person supposed to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case.
  3. A person is not bound to answer those questions, which would have a tendency to expose him to a criminal charge or to a penalty or forfeiture.
  4. No statement made by any person to a police officer in the course of investigation in writing shall be signed by the person making it.
  5. No police officer shall prevent any person from making in the course of any investigation any statement, which he may be disposed to make of his own freewill.

 

Your duties

 

  1. Any police officer making an investigation may, by order in writing ask any person being within the local limits of his own or adjoining police station to come to the police station for questioning and it is the duty of the person called to report on the specified time and place.
  2. Such person is bound to answer truly all questions relating to the case put to him by the officer.
  3. No police officer or other person shall offer or make any such inducement, threat or promise to the person being questioned.