Can you file an online FIR in Bangalore? The answer is you can’t, but you can file an online report for lost documents in Bangalore through the city police website and the e-Lost Report app.
Do you want to learn more about filing an FIR online through the website or E-lost App? Please read this article, which discusses what an FIR is, why you need to file an FIR and how to file it online.
Well, nobody likes visiting a police station, but in some cases, it is a necessity. If you are the victim of a criminal offence or see one taking place, it is your right and duty to file an FIR, based on which the concerned official will start an investigation. Learn more about online FIR Bangalore and how to file them.
Online FIR Bangalore – websites and app to report online for lost documents
How to report online for lost documents
You cannot file an FIR online, but you can file a report for the loss of essential documents on the Bengaluru City Police e-Lost & Found app or website. To do so
- Login to the website/ go to the App
- Enter details of the lost item
- Collect an acknowledgment or form 76A
Note: You have to produce the 76 A form in case you need a duplicate of a claim insurance or lost document.
Online FIR Bangalore – Can you really file it online?
Complainants cannot file FIRs online and must lodge them at police stations. However, the Bengaluru Police have introduced a portal and a mobile app to file a report online for lost items. This includes important documents such as passports, PAN cards, things like gold, computers, mobile phones, computer accessories such as hard drives and watches and personal items such as bags, luggage, wallets, and cash.
One cannot use the Online FIR Bangalore facility powered by this portal to report other cognizable offences.
How to register on the website?
The complainant must register on the website before filling out a form to report the theft. Details to be submitted include the category and subcategory the lost item falls under, the time and area where the loss occurred, the missing item’s brand, the item’s approximate value, a photograph of the item, if available, and the complainant’s details. Once the information is submitted, a digital report is sent to the complainant’s email address and phone number, and it is registered at the State Crimes Record Bureau, Bengaluru.
This report may be used to apply for duplicate documents such as driving licences and mark sheets or as proof in insurance-related cases. The police don’t need to search or inquire based on this report. So, if you have lost your mobile or reported a non-cognizable offence, use the online FIR Bangalore facility.
What is an FIR?
FIR refers to the First Information Report. It is a written document with a prescribed format to present all the information about the criminal event as the complainant tells. Not all criminal offence complaints are filed as FIRs.
FIRs are typically filed for cognizable offences, i.e. criminal offences for which the police can arrest the offender without a warrant. This includes theft, rape, rioting, assault and kidnapping. In some cases, non-cognizable offences, such as bigamy, adultery, etc, can be registered as FIRs if a police officer witnessed the offence or the court permits it to be filed as an FIR. It can be filed by the victim, a witness, or anyone who knows the offence.
What is the difference between an FIR and a police complaint?
There are many differences between FIRs and complaints. The former can be registered only for cognizable criminal offences, while the latter can be filed for cognizable and non-cognizable criminal offences.
FIRs have a prescribed format and must be registered at a police station, while complaints have no set structure and can be made to a judicial magistrate. Most importantly, filing an FIR forces the police to investigate the case, while a complaint needs to be investigated only when the police are directed to do so.
Why should you file an FIR?
An FIR serves many purposes.
- It informs the police about an offence that has taken place and gives them all the relevant facts.
- It sets the criminal law in motion as police are duty-bound to investigate FIRs.
- It provides proof in cases where insurance is involved.
- In the case of thefts, it protects the complainant from liabilities that could arise from the misuse of the stolen property.
How can you lodge an FIR at a police station?
An FIR must be registered as soon as possible after the offence. A Sub-inspector or a senior police officer will usually file the FIR at the police station. One can report the offence orally or write it down to file an FIR. In the case of oral complaints, the policeman will write down the relevant details in the prescribed format, read it to the complainant and get it signed by them.
Written complaints are attached to the FIR. When filing an FIR, it is essential to report all the aspects of the offence correctly, as only one FIR can be filed per case. Thus, there can be only one version of the offence recorded.
According to the Karnataka Police Manual, an FIR can be filed before the authenticity of the complaint or any medical reports is filed. Once the FIR is filed, it cannot be cancelled or withdrawn by the Station House Officer (SHO) under any circumstance.
An FIR records the following details:
A wise man once said, “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.” Being the victim of a criminal offence can put any person in panic mode, but the first thing you should do in such cases is file an FIR. Filing an FIR may seem like a daunting task, but in reality, it is pretty simple. In the unfortunate event of needing to file an FIR, here are a few things you should remember. They are
- Approximate time and date of the offence
- Time and date of reporting the offence
- Place where the offence occurred
- Personal details of the complainant
- Personal information of the accused
- Description of the offence
- In the case of theft, a description of the property that was stolen
- Section of the law applicable to the offence
- Signature of the complainant
There are no fees payable when filing an FIR. A copy of the FIR is also given to the complainant without any charge.
What can you do if the police refuse to register your FIR?
If the offence is non-cognizable, the police may refuse to file an FIR. In such cases, you may file a complaint instead. Refusing to file an FIR in a cognizable criminal offence is an offence. In such cases, you may choose to do one of three things:
- Approach the Superintendent of Police to register the FIR
- File a complaint at the jurisdictional court
- File a complaint at the Karnataka Lokayukta
What happens to an FIR after it is recorded?
Four copies of an FIR are made after it has been registered. One copy is kept by the police station, and the others are sent to the Circle Inspector, Superintendent of Police and magistrate with jurisdiction over the area. A police enquiry will be started immediately after an FIR is registered.
A team will be sent to the place where the offence occurred to collect evidence in the form of photographs, material evidence and witness statements. A report on the FIR must be given to a magistrate within 60 days if the offence was committed in the past seven years or within 90 days if the offence was committed more than seven years ago. It is important to note that filing a false report is punishable by law. If you can file an online FIR, choose that over the physical one. Let technology revolutionise the way we work.
How to download the FIR
1 Click the link which leads to FIR search page
2: Select the District, Division or Investigating Agency (ex CID)
3: Select Police Station
4: FIR number
5: Year of registration
6: Enter Captcha
Also See
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