Written Complaint to Police / FIR: Format and Rights (2026)
A written complaint to the police to register an FIR under Section 173 of the BNSS: what to put in it, a usable format, the zero FIR option, and what to do if the police refuse to register it. Last verified October 2026.
Format · Drafting
When a serious offence happens, the first step is to get the police to register a First Information Report, called an FIR. You do this by giving information about the offence, and it is safest to give it in writing so there is a clear record. Since 1 July 2024 the law on this is Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), which replaced Section 154 of the old Criminal Procedure Code. This page explains what a written complaint to the police should contain, gives a usable format you can adapt, explains the zero FIR, and sets out exactly what to do if the police refuse to register your FIR. Last verified October 2026.
- Law: a written complaint for a cognizable offence is given under Section 173 of the BNSS, which replaced Section 154 CrPC from 1 July 2024.
- Give it in writing: state who, when, where, what happened, who did it, witnesses and the loss, and keep a signed, acknowledged copy.
- Zero FIR: any police station must register a cognizable offence even if it happened elsewhere, then transfer it.
- If refused: write to the Superintendent of Police under Section 173(4), then apply to the Magistrate under Section 175(3).
01FIR and written complaint
An FIR is the first record the police make about a cognizable offence, which is a serious offence where the police can investigate and arrest without the permission of a court. The written complaint is simply the information you give that sets the FIR in motion. Under Section 173 of the BNSS, this information can be given orally or in writing, and it can now also be given by electronic means. If you give it orally, the officer must write it down, read it back to you, and have you sign it.
Giving the information in writing is the safer course. It fixes the facts in your own words, it is harder for anyone to change later, and you have a copy to prove what you said. You are entitled to a free copy of the FIR once it is registered. For the wider framework, see how an FIR works under Section 173 BNSS.
02When the police must register an FIR
For a cognizable offence, the police have to register an FIR. The Supreme Court in Lalita Kumari held that registration is mandatory when the information discloses a cognizable offence, and the officer cannot first decide whether the complaint is true. In a few limited categories the officer may hold a short preliminary enquiry before registering.
Preliminary enquiry is the exception
Under Section 173(3) BNSS, for a cognizable offence punishable with three years or more but less than seven years, the officer may, with the permission of a senior officer, make a preliminary enquiry within fourteen days to see if there is a prima facie case before registering. For offences punishable with seven years or more, registration is mandatory and this option does not apply.
If the offence is non-cognizable, such as a minor matter, the police only make an entry and refer you to a Magistrate, and no FIR is registered in the normal way.
03What to put in the complaint
A good complaint is simple, factual and complete. Put in:
- Who you are: your name, address and contact number.
- When and where: the date, time and exact place the offence happened.
- What happened: a clear account in the order it occurred, in plain words, without leaving out or exaggerating anything.
- Who did it: the names of the accused if you know them, or a description if you do not.
- Witnesses: the names of anyone who saw the incident.
- Loss or injury: what was stolen, damaged, or the injuries caused.
- What you want: a request to register the FIR and investigate.
Stick to facts you know. Do not guess at legal section numbers; it is the duty of the police to apply the correct sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, or other law.
04A usable format
Below is a general format you can adapt. Address it to the Station House Officer of the police station for the area where the offence happened. Change the facts to your case, keep a signed copy, and get an acknowledgement with a diary number.
To, The Station House Officer, ____________________ Police Station, ____________________ (city / district). Date: __________ Subject: Written complaint for registration of FIR and investigation into a cognizable offence. Respected Sir / Madam, I, [full name], aged ____ years, son / daughter / wife of [name], resident of [full address], phone [number], wish to report the following offence and request that an FIR be registered. 1. On [date] at about [time], at [exact place], the following happened: [describe clearly and in order exactly what took place]. 2. The person(s) responsible is / are: [name(s) if known, otherwise a full description]. 3. The following persons witnessed the incident: [names and contact details, if any]. 4. As a result, I have suffered the following loss / injury: [list stolen or damaged items, amounts, or injuries]. The above acts disclose a cognizable offence. I request you to kindly register an FIR under the appropriate provisions of law and investigate the matter. I am ready to join the investigation and to give any further information needed. Kindly give me a free copy of the registered FIR as required by law. Thanking you, Yours faithfully, [Signature] [Name] [Address and phone] Enclosures (if any): [list documents, photographs, medical papers you are attaching].
Hand over the complaint, ask for an acknowledgement, and note the date, time and the name of the officer who received it. If you report online or at a station away from where it happened, see the zero FIR point below. For the online route, see how to file an FIR online.
05Zero FIR
You do not have to find the exact police station that has jurisdiction before you report. If the offence is cognizable, any police station must register the information even if the offence happened somewhere else. This is called a zero FIR, because it is first given a zero number and then transferred to the station that has jurisdiction, where it gets a regular number.
This matters most in urgent cases, such as serious injury or a sexual offence, where time lost in finding the right station can destroy evidence. Insist on a zero FIR if the station tells you to go elsewhere. For the full procedure, see how to file a zero FIR.
06If the police refuse to register your FIR
If the Station House Officer refuses to register the FIR for a cognizable offence, the law gives you a clear ladder of remedies. Use them in order.
- Write to the Superintendent of Police. Under Section 173(4) of the BNSS, you can send the substance of the information in writing, by post, to the Superintendent of Police. If the SP is satisfied that it discloses a cognizable offence, the SP can investigate or direct a subordinate officer to do so.
- Apply to the Magistrate. If that does not work, you can apply to the jurisdictional Magistrate under Section 175(3) of the BNSS, who can direct the police to register and investigate. This application should enclose a copy of your Section 173(4) complaint to the SP and be supported by an affidavit.
- Approach the High Court. In a clear case of a refusal to act, you can move the High Court.
Always keep proof of every step: the acknowledgement at the station, the postal receipt to the SP, and copies of everything.
07Where Claw fits
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
Whether the police must register an FIR, and when a refusal can be challenged, often turns on how courts have read Section 173 and its old equivalent in similar facts. Claw lets you search 30 crore+ judgments, with Supreme Court decisions from 1950 and High Court decisions from 1990, to find rulings on FIR registration, zero FIR and police refusal, in under 5 seconds. Once an FIR is registered and a case starts, Claw tracks cases, orders and hearings across 9,102 courts, benches and forums, so you can follow the matter by party name. Claw does not use your case documents to train its AI models.
Create a FREE Claw account to find FIR and refusal rulings on point and track the case once it is registered, using case search across Indian courts. If a false or baseless FIR is registered against you, see how to quash an FIR under Section 528 BNSS.
08Sources and further reading
- India Code (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Section 173): indiacode.nic.in
- Ministry of Home Affairs (new criminal laws): mha.gov.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
This is a general format and information, not legal advice. Adapt the complaint to your facts and, in a serious matter, take the help of an advocate before acting.
09Frequently asked questions
How do I write a complaint to the police for an FIR?
Address it to the Station House Officer of the area where the offence happened. State your name and contact details, the date, time and place, a clear factual account of what happened, who did it, any witnesses, and the loss or injury, and ask for an FIR to be registered and investigated. Keep a signed, acknowledged copy.
What law governs an FIR now?
Since 1 July 2024, FIRs for cognizable offences are governed by Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which replaced Section 154 of the old Criminal Procedure Code. Information can be given orally, in writing, or by electronic means.
What is a zero FIR?
A zero FIR is an FIR that any police station must register for a cognizable offence even if the offence happened outside its area. It is given a zero number first and then transferred to the station that has jurisdiction, where it gets a regular number. It saves vital time in urgent cases.
What can I do if the police refuse to register my FIR?
First send the information in writing by post to the Superintendent of Police under Section 173(4) of the BNSS. If that does not work, apply to the jurisdictional Magistrate under Section 175(3), enclosing a copy of your letter to the SP and an affidavit. In a clear case you can also approach the High Court.
Do I have to quote the legal sections in my complaint?
No. You only have to state the facts clearly. It is the duty of the police to apply the correct sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, or other law. Guessing at section numbers can cause confusion, so leave that to the police and your lawyer.
Am I entitled to a copy of the FIR?
Yes. Once the FIR is registered you are entitled to a free copy. Ask for it, and note the FIR number, the date and the police station, as you will need them for every later step.