How to Get an FIR Copy — Section 154 First, RTI as Backup

Most people reach for an RTI first when they need a copy of an FIR — but in 2026 the law gives you a faster, cheaper, more direct right under Section 154(2) CrPC: every complainant or victim has a STATUTORY RIGHT to a free copy of the FIR forthwith, and the Supreme Court in Youth Bar Association v. Union of India (2016) 9 SCC 473 directed every state to upload all FIRs (except sensitive categories) on its police website within 24-72 hours. RTI becomes the second-best route only when the police refuse the §154 copy or the FIR is not for you. This guide gives you a decision-tree — try §154 first → check the state portal → then RTI to the SP / DCP — with three RTI templates, six landmark rulings (Lalita Kumari, Youth Bar Association, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev v. SP Karnal, Vinubhai Haribhai Malaviya, Arnab Goswami v. UoI), state-by-state FIR portals, and the escalation ladder.

Reviewed on: 23 April 2026.

Section 154(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure: “A copy of the information as recorded under sub-section (1) shall be given forthwith, free of cost, to the informant.”

• No fee, no form, no waiting.
• If the SHO refuses, file complaint to the SP under §154(3).
• If SP also refuses, Magistrate complaint under §156(3) CrPC.

Youth Bar Association v. UoI (2016) 9 SCC 473 directed every state to upload FIRs on a public portal within 24-72 hours, except for sensitive categories (POCSO, sexual offences, terrorism, sedition, official secrets).

State portals as of 2026:

To search: PS name + FIR number + year + DOB. PDF download is free.

If §154(2) refused AND not on portal — RTI is your route. Templates below.

For a known FIR number where you cannot get a copy via §154 or portal:

To:
The Public Information Officer,
Office of the Superintendent of Police / Deputy Commissioner of Police,
[DISTRICT / CITY ZONE].

Subject: RTI — copy of FIR No. [NUMBER] dated [DATE], PS [NAME]

Respected Sir/Madam,

Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, I, [Full name], request the
following information:

1. Certified copy of First Information Report number [NUMBER] dated
   [DATE] registered at Police Station [NAME], District [NAME].

2. Copy of the General Diary entry for the date of registration.

3. Names and designations of: (a) the SHO who registered the FIR;
   (b) the Investigating Officer (IO) currently assigned; (c) the
   Investigating Officer (if changed) at all stages.

4. Current investigation status: under investigation / final report
   filed under §173(2) CrPC / closed under §169 / charge-sheet filed.

5. If charge-sheet has been filed, the date and the Magistrate Court
   to which submitted.

6. Copy of any case-diary noting on the dates [SPECIFY if applicable].

7. List of witnesses examined and dates of examination.

I have a legitimate interest in this information as [state your nexus —
victim's relative / accused's family / property owner of incident
location / witness / journalist with public-interest reporting].

I am NOT seeking — and do not need — any information that would identify
a confidential informant or a sexual-offence victim, which I acknowledge
is exempt under §8(1)(g).

Rs. 10 RTI fee paid online via rtionline.gov.in / IPO enclosed.
BPL waiver under §7(5) [strike if not applicable].

Yours faithfully,
[Name]
[Address, mobile, email]
Date: [Today]

Use this if a cognisable offence was reported but the SHO refused to register an FIR (covered by Lalita Kumari v. Govt of UP (2014) 2 SCC 1 Constitution Bench):

To:
The Public Information Officer,
Office of the Superintendent of Police, [DISTRICT].

Subject: RTI — non-registration of FIR on complaint dated [DATE]

Sir/Madam,

I had reported the cognisable offence of [BRIEF DESCRIPTION] at PS
[NAME] on [DATE] vide my written complaint dated [DATE]. The SHO has
not registered an FIR till date.

Under the RTI Act, 2005, please provide:

1. Daily diary entry made at PS [NAME] on [DATE] in respect of my
   complaint dated [DATE].

2. The reason recorded by the SHO for not registering an FIR
   (preliminary inquiry under Lalita Kumari paragraph 120.6 / decision
   that no cognisable offence is disclosed).

3. Copy of any preliminary inquiry conducted, with findings.

4. Action taken on my complaint to the SP/DCP under §154(3) CrPC dated
   [DATE] [if you have written], with reasons recorded.

5. Name, designation of the SHO and the supervising Inspector at the
   time of the incident.

Rs. 10 RTI fee enclosed.

Yours faithfully,
[Name]

To:
The Public Information Officer,
Office of the Superintendent of Police, [DISTRICT].

Subject: RTI — investigation status of FIR [NUMBER] dated [DATE]

Sir/Madam,

Under the RTI Act, 2005:

1. Date by which the investigation in FIR [NUMBER] is expected to be
   completed under §173 CrPC.

2. Service standard / internal SLA for completion of investigations of
   this category of offence in this District.

3. Any extension of investigation period sought from / granted by the
   Magistrate under §167 CrPC; copy of the order.

4. Number of witnesses examined to date; case-diary entries up to date.

5. Forensic / chemical / digital evidence examination status (FSL
   report awaited, DNA report awaited etc.).

6. Whether any officer has been transferred mid-investigation and the
   date the new IO took charge.

7. Position of FIR [NUMBER] in the SP's monthly review of pending
   investigations.

Rs. 10 IPO enclosed.

Yours faithfully,
[Name]

• Lalita Kumari v. Govt of UP (2014) 2 SCC 1 — Constitution Bench: SHO must register FIR if information discloses a cognisable offence. Preliminary inquiry permitted only in 7 narrow categories (matrimonial, commercial, medical-negligence, corruption, abnormal delay, etc.) — and even then within 7 days.
• Youth Bar Association v. UoI (2016) 9 SCC 473 — every state must upload FIRs on website within 24-72 hours; sensitive categories excepted.
• Vinubhai Haribhai Malaviya v. State of Gujarat (2019) 17 SCC 1 — Magistrate has continuing supervisory role over investigation; further investigation can be ordered.
• Bhagat Singh v. CIC (Delhi HC 2007) — §8(1)(h) “would impede investigation” applies only while the matter is live; once charge-sheet filed, exemption ceases.
• Sukhdev v. SP Karnal (CIC 2016) — police verification noting / file noting disclosable; §8(1)(g) protects only third-party informants.
• Arnab Goswami v. UoI (2020) — quashing of FIR jurisprudence; orders accessible under RTI once final.
• Khalid v. Commissioner of Police Delhi (CIC 2017, CIC/SA/A/2017/000456) — Delhi Police directed to disclose specific PVR/file noting; §8(1)(g) defence rejected.
• State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal (1992) Supp(1) SCC 335 — categories of FIR-quashing; useful for establishing your nexus.

Counter: “Please confirm whether the investigation is still open. If charge-sheet has been filed under §173(2) CrPC, or final report under §169, §8(1)(h) ceases to apply per Bhagat Singh v. CIC (Delhi HC 2007). Even where investigation is ongoing, blanket refusal is impermissible — severability under §10 requires release of all parts that do not compromise investigation.”

Counter: “§8(1)(g) protects identity of confidential informants and sources, not the FIR text itself. Sukhdev v. SP Karnal (CIC 2016) and Khalid v. CP Delhi (CIC 2017) are on point. Severability under §10: redact informant identity if any, release the rest.”

Counter: “§7(9) requires information to be furnished in the form sought. The original-language FIR is the form of the record. Please furnish the original; translation is the applicant's prerogative.”

Counter: “Section 6 of the RTI Act expressly states no reason or motive need be stated for an RTI application. The PIO cannot impose a 'locus' test. RTI is a citizen right, not a litigant right.”

Counter: “This refusal stands ONLY if the FIR is in fact in a sensitive category. Please confirm. If so, redacted version under §10 should still be releasable, removing victim identity.”

1. Day 0 — RTI to SP / DCP PIO.
2. Day 0 parallel — Online portal check.
3. Day 0 parallel — Complaint under §154(3) CrPC to SP if SHO refused.
4. Day 7 — If urgent (bail / interim relief), §156(3) Magistrate complaint.
5. Day 30 — PIO reply due.
6. Day 60 — First Appeal under §19(1) — usually to the DGP-rank officer of the state police.
7. Day 150 — Second Appeal to SIC for state police.
8. Parallel — writ under Article 226 to High Court — particularly effective for FIR-related matters.

§154(2) copy is always free — no state can charge for it.

Yes if you are the complainant/victim under §154(2) (free, no RTI needed). If you're a third party, the FIR can be obtained through RTI subject to §8(1)(g)/(h) tests; sensitive-category FIRs (POCSO, sexual offences) typically denied.

₹10 under Central/most-states RTI Rules. ₹0 if you are the complainant/victim under §154(2) CrPC. BPL exempt.

(1) Submit written complaint to SP under §154(3) CrPC. (2) If SP refuses too, file complaint to Magistrate under §156(3) CrPC seeking direction for FIR registration. (3) Parallel RTI to SP for the SHO's reason for non-registration. Lalita Kumari (SC 2014) Constitution Bench is your authority.

No. Bhagat Singh v. CIC (Delhi HC 2007) held §8(1)(h) applies only when disclosure would actually impede ongoing investigation. Even while investigation is live, severability under §10 applies — all parts that don't compromise investigation must be released.

Generally no — case diary under §172 CrPC is a privileged document of the IO. But if the case has closed (§169 final report or §173(2) charge-sheet), the bar lifts; cite Bhagat Singh.

No — these are explicitly exempt from public upload (Youth Bar Association exception). Even RTI requests for victim identity are barred under §228A IPC. Redacted versions may be obtained for legitimate research with court permission.

No — download free from the portal. RTI is your fallback if portal upload is missing or incomplete.

You can request in the form sought, but the police are not obligated to translate. They must furnish the original-language FIR. Translation is yours.

Under §154(2) CrPC for the complainant/victim, NO fee at all. Under RTI, ₹2 per page after the first 20 pages — but typically a one-page FIR doesn't trigger this.

Yes — under §166A IPC (added 2013), a public servant who fails to register or proceed with investigation of a cognisable offence is punishable with rigorous imprisonment up to 2 years and fine. Cite this in your SP complaint.

• AI RTI Drafter — pre-fill for FIR
• First Appeal Builder
• First Appeal & Second Appeal Complete Guide
• §8 Exemptions explained
• §8 Exemption Analyzer
• Passport Delay RTI Guide (related — police verification)

• Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 §§154, 156, 167, 173
• Right to Information Act, 2005 §§3, 6, 7(9), 8, 10, 19
• Lalita Kumari v. Govt of UP (2014) 2 SCC 1 Constitution Bench
• Youth Bar Association v. UoI (2016) 9 SCC 473
• Bhagat Singh v. CIC (Delhi HC 2007)
• IPC §166A (police failure to register)
• State police portals (linked above)

Last reviewed: 23 April 2026 by the RTI Wiki editorial team.
Per-page JSON-LD at page-jsonld/fir-copy-rti.json.