Police grievance — 112, 1930 and RTI in 2026

Last reviewed: 26 August 2026. Helpline numbers verified against central government portals.

The 1930 helpline and the reporting portal are run together: the portal's “Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud” reporting window is designed for the golden hour after a fraudulent transfer, when banks can still freeze the trail. Report there first, keep the acknowledgement ID, and only then chase the bank.

Since the new criminal codes took effect on 1 July 2024, the FIR is an information under §173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, replacing the old §154 CrPC:

1. The station house officer must register information about a cognizable offence.
2. Refused? The law's built-in escalation: give your complaint in writing to the Superintendent of Police under §173(4) BNSS. The SP must investigate — either herself or through a subordinate.
3. The zero-FIR rule also lives in §173 BNSS: a station cannot refuse an FIR because the crime happened outside its jurisdiction. It must register and forward.
4. Still nothing? Approach the Magistrate under §175(3) BNSS to order an investigation, and file a complaint with the state or national Human Rights Commission if the inaction itself harms you.

Keep every step in writing — the postal receipt of the SP's complaint is worth more than ten phone calls.

For rude behaviour, refusal to act, or worse:

• The state police complaint authority or the internal vigilance cell takes complaints against personnel.
• The State Human Rights Commission and the NHRC take complaints where the inaction or conduct violates rights — free of cost.
• For overseas citizens in trouble with Indian authorities, the MEA's Madad portal at madad.gov.in tracks consular grievances.

Helplines create reference numbers, not accountability. RTI creates accountability:

To, The Public Information Officer,
[Police station / district headquarters / cyber cell]

Under §6(1) RTI Act 2005, please provide:
1. Status and daily action taken on complaint no. _____ dated _____.
2. Name and designation of the officer assigned to my complaint.
3. Copy of the FIR registered / reasons recorded for non-registration.
4. The standard timeline prescribed in the citizen charter for this complaint type, and my file's compliance with it.
5. Date-wise movement of my file in the last 90 days.

₹10 IPO enclosed.

One caution: certain police bodies — intelligence and security agencies named under §24 of the RTI Act — are exempt, though even they must answer corruption and human-rights allegations. Ordinary law-and-order police stations are fully covered.

Real example. Kashvi Pathak of Indore reported a delivery-scam loss of ₹18,000, got a 1930 reference, and then silence for two months. An RTI to the cyber cell asking for “action taken on complaint no. ___” produced a written status naming the investigating officer — and a call the next week with the frozen-funds form she had never been told about.

It diverts to the 112 emergency response system in most states. Program 112; it covers police, fire and medical.

Within minutes to an hour if possible. Call 1930 and file on cybercrime.gov.in — early reporting drives the freeze-and-recall workflow.

No. Under §173 BNSS a zero FIR must be registered and forwarded to the correct station.

Only the intelligence and security organizations listed in §24 — and even they must answer corruption and human-rights questions.

Move the Magistrate under §175(3) BNSS to order an investigation, and simultaneously file an RTI for the SP office's action on your complaint.

• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal — 1930 helpline and financial fraud reporting
• Madad — MEA consular grievance portal
• Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, §173, §175; RTI Act 2005, §24

• All helplines and grievance routes
• Women Helpline 181 and legal options
• SIM misuse — check and act
• AI RTI Drafter — auto-fills PIO details
• The RTI Playbook