Law and justice explained
What Is a Zero FIR, and Can It Be Filed in Another City?
Information about a cognizable offence should not be refused solely because the incident occurred in another police station’s jurisdiction. Section 173 of the BNSS allows information to be given regardless of jurisdiction, and the matter may later be transferred to the relevant police station for investigation.
Written by
Advocate Amardeep Jaiswal
Advocate, High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Jabalpur
Key points
- Information about a cognizable offence should not be refused solely because the incident occurred in another police station’s jurisdiction.
- Section 173 of the BNSS provides for information to be given regardless of jurisdiction.In common usage, such an initial report is called a Zero FIR.
- The matter may be sent to the relevant police station for further investigation.
Detailed analysis
Understanding law and procedure
Information about a cognizable offence should not be refused solely because the incident occurred in another police station’s jurisdiction. Section 173 of the BNSS provides for information to be given regardless of jurisdiction.
In common usage, such an initial report is called a Zero FIR. The matter may be sent to the relevant police station for further investigation. This facility does not make every complaint a cognizable offence. Section 173 also requires information given through digital means to be signed within three days; check the procedure available in your state.
What should you do now?
- Tell the nearest police station about the incident and accurately state where it occurred.
- Ask for a copy of the information recorded and any available details about its transfer.
- After the matter reaches the relevant police station, note the investigating officer’s name and the new number.
Which documents should you keep?
Keep identification, a timeline of the incident, details of the location, and any available photographs or other evidence.
Avoid this mistake
It is not appropriate to have the location of the incident recorded incorrectly to change the police station’s jurisdiction.
A hypothetical example
An offence occurs in another district while a person is travelling, and the person returns to their city. They may give information to the local police station while stating the actual place of occurrence. Keeping the recorded details is useful for the subsequent transfer process relating to jurisdiction.
Will the investigation of a Zero FIR be completed at the same police station?
Not necessarily. It may be transferred to the police station with jurisdiction over the area.
Legal basis and useful source
This is general legal information. Advice may differ depending on your facts, the applicable law and state rules.
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About the author
Advocate Amardeep Jaiswal
Advocate, High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Jabalpur।
Publishes informational articles on Indian law, judicial decisions and practical legal issues.
Editorial note: Analysis and commentary reflect the author’s understanding and opinion. Law, facts and judicial developments may change; check primary sources and your own circumstances before acting.