This is not unusual. National Crime Records Bureau data and the Supreme Court's own observations in Lalita Kumari (2014) note that non-registration of FIR is one of the most common grievances against the police in India. RTI is the lowest-cost legal pressure tool available to push a station to either register or to record in writing why they have not.

You have probably already tried the obvious routes. Most state police now have:

• Helpline 100 / 112 (national emergency)
• State citizen apps — UP Cop App, Maharashtra Citizen Portal, Delhi Police app, Karnataka KSP, Tamil Nadu TNPolice, Bihar Police Citizen Portal
• CPGRAMS (https://pgportal.gov.in)
• District SP / Commissioner email complaints

These routes can move things — but they are not legally bound to give you a reasoned written reply in a fixed time. A station officer can mark your CPGRAMS complaint “resolved” by simply writing “matter under inquiry, complainant may visit the station”. No reason needed. No appeal.

• CPGRAMS / app: the SHO can close your ticket with a one-line reply. You have no automatic escalation.
• RTI: the PIO must give you a written reply with reasons within 30 days under §7(1). If they don't, you file a First Appeal under §19(1) for free. Then a Second Appeal to the State Information Commission under §19(3), where penalties of up to ₹25,000 can be imposed on a silent PIO under §20.

In short: a complaint app is a request. An RTI is a legal claim on your right to know.

Important on police and RTI in 2026. State police are not in the §24 schedule of the RTI Act (only IB, RAW, CRPF and a few others are). Many state amendments to §24 (e.g., Maharashtra, UP, Bihar) carve out “intelligence units” but not the regular police station. Routine matters — FIR status, FIR copy, missing-person registers, character-certificate processing, vehicle records — are squarely under RTI. The Supreme Court in CBI v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal (2019) and the Delhi High Court in Bhagat Singh v. CIC (2007) have consistently held that §8(1)(h) (investigation exemption) must be specifically justified — it is not a blanket bar.

The Lalita Kumari v. State of Uttar Pradesh (2014) 2 SCC 1 Constitution Bench made FIR registration mandatory for cognizable offences. Common cognizable offences:

• Cheating, forgery (BNS §316–§336, earlier IPC §415-§420)
• Theft, robbery, dacoity (BNS §303–§310)
• Hurt, assault, criminal intimidation (BNS §115–§133)
• Rape, sexual offences, POCSO — mandatory FIR, no preliminary enquiry allowed
• Dowry death, domestic violence under §498A IPC equivalent (BNS §85–§86)
• Cyber fraud above ₹25 lakh in many states

Non-cognizable offences (defamation, simple cheating below threshold in some states) only need an NC entry — police can refer you to court directly.

Police RTI structure in most states is three-tier:

• Station-level PIO: the Station House Officer (SHO) is usually the PIO for FIR/registration records. Address: “PIO, [Police Station Name]”.
• District-level PIO + FAA: the Superintendent of Police (SP) in districts, or DCP/Commissioner of Police in metros, is the FAA. Some states designate the SP office's “Reader” as district PIO.
• State HQ PIO: Director General of Police (DGP) office has its own PIO for state-wide records.

For an FIR-not-registered case, file at the Station PIO. Send a parallel copy to the SP/DCP (this triggers internal pressure even before the formal reply).

• Indian Postal Order (IPO) for ₹10, payable to “Accounts Officer, [name of police office]”. Buy from any post office. Most reliable.
• Court fee stamp of ₹10 — accepted in most state police offices.
• Cash if you walk in (allowed under §6(1), though some stations resist).
• Demand Draft for ₹10 — overkill, but allowed.

BPL applicants: fee waived. Attach BPL ration card copy.

Be specific. Don't ask “why have you not registered my FIR?” — ask for the status, the dealing officer, the rule cited, and the file number.

[Your full name]
[Your address]
[Phone] · [Email]
[Date]

To,
The Public Information Officer
(Station House Officer)
[Name of Police Station]
[District, State, PIN]

Copy to: The Public Information Officer, Office of the SP/Commissioner of Police, [District/City]

Subject: RTI application under §6(1), RTI Act 2005 — status of complaint dated [DD-MM-YYYY] regarding cognizable offence

Sir/Madam,

I am a citizen of India. I had submitted a written complaint at your police station on [date] regarding the following cognizable offence: [brief one-line description, e.g., "forgery of property documents under BNS §336"]. The complaint was acknowledged by [name of officer / dak number / receipt number, if any]. As of today, no FIR has been registered.

I request the following information under §6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005:

1. Whether my complaint dated [date] has been registered as an FIR. If yes, the FIR number, date, and sections invoked. If no, the **specific written reason** for non-registration with reference to the relevant provision (BNSS §173 / earlier CrPC §154, or the //Lalita Kumari// guidelines).

2. The name, designation, and contact number of the **investigating officer** (IO) currently handling my complaint.

3. The date on which the complaint was entered into the **Station Diary (Roznamcha)** and the GD/Roznamcha entry number.

4. If any "preliminary enquiry" has been initiated, (a) the date it commenced, (b) the officer conducting it, (c) the date by which it is to be concluded, and (d) the category of offence under which preliminary enquiry is permitted as per the //Lalita Kumari// (2014) 2 SCC 1 framework.

5. A certified copy of the complaint as recorded in your station records.

6. If the complaint was forwarded to any other police station on jurisdictional grounds, the date, the receiving station, and the dispatch/diary number.

Fee: I enclose Indian Postal Order No. [number] dated [date] for ₹10 in favour of "Accounts Officer, [Police Office]".

I declare that I am a citizen of India.

Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
[Name]

Use Registered Post with Acknowledgement Due (AD). Cost ₹40-60.

• Take the application + IPO to the post office
• Ask for “Registered AD”
• Keep the receipt — your dated proof of filing
• Post the second copy (to the SP/Commissioner) the same day

Optional but powerful: also hand-deliver a copy at the station and ask the duty officer to stamp your duplicate. Many SHOs reconsider the moment they see an RTI being filed.

The 30-day RTI clock starts the day the office receives your application (the date on the AD card).

• Day 30: Reply due. If silence → §7(2) deemed refusal → file First Appeal at Day 31.

In parallel — don't wait if the offence is serious — file a §156(3) CrPC / BNSS §175(3) application before the Judicial Magistrate / Chief Judicial Magistrate of the district. This is a one-page application asking the Magistrate to direct the police to register an FIR. The Magistrate routinely grants this when the SHO has refused.

• Court fee: ₹2-10 depending on state.
• Format: plain application + your written complaint + proof of refusal (return slip, RTI itself).
• The Supreme Court in Lalita Kumari (2014) and Sakiri Vasu v. State of UP (2008) 2 SCC 409 has held this route is available the moment the police refuse.

The PIO's reply will typically take one of these shapes:

1. “FIR registered, here is the FIR number.” Done. Demand a free copy under BNSS §173(2) — it is a public document.
2. “Preliminary enquiry pending.” Check whether your offence is in the Lalita Kumari “permitted preliminary enquiry” categories (matrimonial, commercial, medical negligence, corruption, abnormal delay). If not, escalate immediately — preliminary enquiry is not allowed for ordinary cognizable offences.
3. “Matter is non-cognizable.” Demand the specific section under which the offence is being read. If the section is wrong, write a representation to the SP citing Lalita Kumari + the correct BNS section.
4. “Jurisdiction belongs to [other PS].” File the same RTI at that station; you can also insist on a “Zero FIR” under BNSS §173(1) proviso, which any station can register and forward.
5. “Compromise being attempted between parties.” Police have no power to refuse FIR for compromise reasons in non-compoundable offences. Write back citing Lalita Kumari.

File a First Appeal under §19(1) — free, by registered post, 30-day clock.

The FAA for a Police Station PIO is usually the SP / DCP / Commissioner of the district. Address:

To,
The First Appellate Authority
(Superintendent of Police / DCP / Commissioner of Police)
[Office address, district HQ]

Subject: First Appeal under §19(1), RTI Act 2005 — non-response by PIO, [PS Name]

Sir/Madam,

I filed an RTI application dated [original date] (AD acknowledged on [AD date]) with the PIO/SHO of [PS name]. The §7(1) 30-day window ended on [day 30]. I have received [no reply / a vague reply not addressing my questions]. I file this First Appeal under §19(1) of the RTI Act 2005.

Grounds:
  - Information sought relates to the status and non-registration of an FIR for a cognizable offence (//Lalita Kumari v. UP// (2014) 2 SCC 1) and is squarely within the disclosure mandate (//Bhagat Singh v. CIC//, Delhi HC 2007 — §8(1)(h) cannot be invoked as a blanket bar).
  - The PIO has committed a §7(2) deemed refusal.

I attach: (a) copy of the original RTI, (b) postal AD acknowledgement, (c) the PIO's reply if any.

I request the FAA to direct the PIO to provide the information sought and to consider action under §20 of the RTI Act for the deemed refusal.

[Signature]

If the FAA also fails to respond in 45 days (the §19(6) cap), you go to the State Information Commission under §19(3). Each state SIC has its own portal — Maharashtra SIC, UP SIC, Bihar SIC, Delhi SIC, Karnataka SIC etc. Most accept e-second-appeals.

§8(1)(h) of RTI exempts information that “would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders”. Police often invoke it as a default to refuse FIR-related RTIs. It rarely sticks for these requests:

• Bhagat Singh v. CIC (Delhi HC, 2007) — §8(1)(h) is not a blanket exemption. The PIO must show how disclosure would actually impede investigation.
• Aditya Bandopadhyay v. CBSE (2011) 8 SCC 497 — a citizen's own records held by a public authority must be disclosed on request. Your own complaint and its status are your records.
• B.S. Mathur v. PIO Delhi Police (Delhi HC 2011) — even active investigation files require specific, recorded justification for §8(1)(h) refusal.
• CIC orders 2010-2024 have repeatedly held that (a) the existence of an FIR, (b) the FIR copy itself, © the status of the complaint, (d) the IO's name are all disclosable. Investigation-stage witness statements (§161 statements) and forensic reports may be held back, but not the procedural record.

If the PIO replies citing §8(1)(h), your First Appeal must demand the specific justification required under §10 (severability) — i.e., even if some parts are exempt, the rest must be disclosed.

• Sending by ordinary post. No proof of delivery, no clock starts. Always Registered AD.
• Asking “why have you not registered?” instead of asking for status + reasons + dealing officer + Roznamcha entry. Vague questions invite vague answers.
• Filing only at DGP HQ. Wrong-office RTIs get bounced. Always file at the station (and copy to SP).
• Threatening or insulting tone. A polite, specific request gets a polite, specific reply.
• Skipping the §156(3) parallel route. RTI is for the written record. §156(3) is for the actual FIR. Use both.
• Ignoring “Zero FIR”. If the station refuses on jurisdiction, demand a Zero FIR under BNSS §173(1) proviso — any PS can register and transfer.

Q. Can I file an RTI before the police even take my complaint?
You can — but the RTI is more useful after you have filed a written complaint and have a dak number / receipt. Without that, the PIO will reply “no record found”.

Q. Is the FIR copy free?
Yes. Under BNSS §173(2) (earlier CrPC §154(2)), the FIR copy must be given free of cost to the informant. You don't need an RTI for it — you can demand it directly. RTI is the fallback if they refuse.

Q. Can the SHO charge me for the RTI reply?
The first 20 pages are typically free. After that, ₹2/page (varies by state — Bihar ₹2, Maharashtra ₹2, Delhi ₹2). The PIO will issue a fee demand notice and pause the 30-day clock until you pay.

Q. What if the SHO threatens me for filing an RTI?
This is a serious offence under §3 of the RTI Act and may amount to an offence under BNS. Report to the SP, the State Information Commission, the State Human Rights Commission, and the District Magistrate. Many states (Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka) have RTI Activist Protection Cells.

Q. I am a victim of domestic violence and the police won't register the FIR. What do I do?
For DV / dowry / sexual offences — FIR is mandatory and no preliminary enquiry is allowed (Lalita Kumari para 120.6). File the RTI and approach the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA — free legal aid), the State Women Commission, and the Mahila Police Station (in states that have one). Also file §156(3) immediately.

Q. The police registered the FIR but won't give me a copy. RTI?
Yes — file a one-question RTI demanding (a) certified copy of the FIR under BNSS §173(2), (b) dispatch register entry showing when the copy was sent to the informant. CIC has held this is a clear-cut disclosure case.