How to get an FIR copy, track the police investigation and get the charge-sheet in India — free FIR copy under Section 173(2) BNSS (old 154(2) CrPC), downloading FIRs online (Youth Bar Association 2016), the 90-day progress update (s.193(3)), charge-sheet and documents under s.230 (old 207), closure reports and court case status (2026)
Plain, step-by-step map for complainants, victims, families and accused persons who need police papers: who is entitled to a free FIR copy and when; how FIRs are uploaded and downloaded online, and what happens in ‘sensitive’ cases; how an accused can get the FIR early; the police duty to tell the informant or victim about progress within 90 days; what a charge-sheet (police report) is and who gets copies under Section 230 BNSS; what to do if police file a closure report; and how to check court case status on eCourts. Educational only — not legal advice. Adhiwakta does not contact police stations or courts or obtain documents for anyone.
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First, which paper do you need?
Criminal cases produce different documents at different stages: (1) the FIR (first information report) when the police register the case; (2) progress information while the investigation is on; (3) the charge-sheet — legally the ‘police report’ under Section 193 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), old Section 173 CrPC — or a closure / final report saying no case is made out; and (4) court orders once the case reaches the Magistrate. Who can get which paper, and how, depends on whether you are the informant, the victim, the accused, or someone else. Since 1 July 2024 the BNSS has replaced the CrPC; old section numbers are given in brackets because police and courts still refer to them for older cases.
Informant or victim: a free FIR copy, immediately
Section 173(2) BNSS (old 154(2) CrPC) says a copy of the information as recorded must be given forthwith, free of cost, to the informant or the victim. Ask for it at the police station when the FIR is written and check that the FIR number, date, police station, sections and your account are correctly recorded before you sign. If you gave the information electronically (e-FIR or email where your State allows it), Section 173(1)(ii) requires you to sign it within three days for it to be taken on record — so visit the police station or follow the State portal’s process in time. If the police refuse to register a cognizable offence at all, see the guide on police refusing an FIR (SP under Section 173(4), Magistrate under Section 175(3), old 156(3)).
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Downloading an FIR online
In Youth Bar Association of India v. Union of India (2016) the Supreme Court directed that FIRs be uploaded on the police website (or the State Government’s website) within 24 hours of registration — extendable to 48 hours, and at most 72 hours, only for connectivity problems in remote areas — so that the accused or anyone connected can download them. Most State police websites and citizen apps now offer ‘view / download FIR’ by district, police station, FIR number and year. Sensitive cases are excluded: sexual offences, POCSO cases, insurgency or terrorism, and others where privacy is involved. The decision not to upload must be taken by an officer of at least Deputy Superintendent of Police rank (or the District Magistrate where applicable) and communicated to the Magistrate.
If you are the accused, or think you have been named
The same judgment says an accused is entitled to the FIR earlier than the trial stage. A person who suspects he has been named can apply, personally or through a representative, to the police officer concerned or the Superintendent of Police for a certified copy on paying the fee payable for a court copy — and it is to be supplied within 24 hours. Once the FIR has reached the Magistrate or Special Judge, the court is to give a certified copy within two working days of an application. If a copy is refused because the case is ‘sensitive’, you can disclose your identity and make a representation to the SP (or the Commissioner of Police in metropolitan cities), where a committee of three officers is to decide within three days. The Court also said that an FIR not being uploaded is not, by itself, a ground for anticipatory bail.
Investigation progress: the 90-day rule
A new BNSS duty helps complainants who hear nothing after the FIR: under Section 193(3)(ii) the police officer must, within 90 days, inform the informant or the victim about the progress of the investigation, by any means including electronic communication. Section 193(3)(iii) also requires the action taken to be communicated to the person who first gave the information, in the manner State rules provide. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed police chiefs in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to ensure this is followed. For rape-related offences under BNS Sections 64–68, 70 and 71 and certain POCSO offences, Section 193(2) requires the investigation to be completed within two months. Write down the investigating officer’s name and number, and ask for updates in writing.
What a charge-sheet is — and who gets a copy
When the investigation ends, the officer in charge sends a police report to the Magistrate (Section 193(3), old 173(2)) — commonly called a charge-sheet when it says offences appear to have been committed. With it go the documents the prosecution relies on and the statements of witnesses (Section 193(6)). Under Section 230 BNSS (old 207 CrPC), in a case started on a police report the Magistrate must, without delay and in no case later than 14 days from the accused’s production or appearance, give free copies to the accused — and to the victim if represented by an advocate — of the police report, the FIR, witness statements recorded under Section 180 (old 161), confessions and statements under Section 183 (old 164), and other documents sent with the report. Bulky documents can be given electronically or made available for inspection, and electronic supply counts as proper supply.
Charge-sheets are not posted publicly
Unlike FIRs, charge-sheets are not uploaded for the general public. In Saurav Das v. Union of India (2023) the Supreme Court refused to order States to publish charge-sheets, holding they are not ‘public documents’ and that putting them online would go against the scheme of criminal procedure and could harm the accused, the victim and the investigation. So the routes are: the accused under Section 230; the victim through an advocate under Section 230; and, otherwise, an application for certified copies to the court where the case is pending, under that High Court’s rules on copies — courts decide such applications case by case.
If the police file a closure (final) report
Sometimes the police report says no offence is made out, or the accused could not be traced. The Supreme Court held in Bhagwant Singh v. Commissioner of Police (1985) that before accepting such a report and dropping the case, the Magistrate must give notice to the informant and hear him or her. You can then file objections, often called a protest petition, pointing to evidence that was ignored. The Magistrate may accept the report, order further investigation, or take cognizance on the material. Under Section 193(9) BNSS (old 173(8)) the police can also investigate further after a report; during trial this needs the court’s permission and is to be completed within 90 days, extendable by the court.
Checking court case status online
Once a charge-sheet or complaint is filed, the case gets a court number and a CNR (case number record). The eCourts Services website and app let you search district court cases by CNR, case number, party name, advocate or FIR number, and show next dates, orders and judgments where uploaded. Write down the court, case number and next date from the first order sheet. Free tools can help you keep dates in one place, but always confirm with the court record.
Using RTI — and its limits
An RTI application to the police can sometimes get information such as the status of your complaint or the action taken, but Section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act allows information to be withheld where it would impede investigation or prosecution, and case papers are usually obtained through the criminal procedure routes above rather than RTI. If an RTI reply is refused or not given in 30 days, a first appeal lies to the first appellate authority.
When the police stay silent
If you get no FIR copy, no progress update, or the investigation stalls, write to the Station House Officer and then the Superintendent of Police or Commissioner, keeping proof of delivery. You can also approach the Magistrate with an application describing the delay, and in serious cases the High Court. Keep it factual: dates, what you asked for, and what was not done. If you are the accused and the FIR seems false or an abuse of process, see the guides on anticipatory bail and on quashing petitions under Section 528 BNSS.
What this guide is not
It does not tell you whether a particular FIR is correct, whether an investigation is adequate, or how a court will rule on any application. State police portals, copy fees and court copying rules differ — check the official website of your State police and the court concerned.
How Adhiwakta can help
We do not obtain FIRs or charge-sheets, contact police stations or courts, or file applications. Adhiwakta is a facilitation platform, not a law firm. We do not file cases, appear before any authority, or promise any result. Use Ask Adhiwakta to describe your situation for general guidance from an independent advocate, or start with the AI helper to organise your facts and papers. Educational only — not formal legal advice.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is the FIR copy free for the complainant?
- Yes. Under Section 173(2) BNSS (old 154(2) CrPC) a copy of the FIR must be given forthwith and free of cost to the informant or the victim. Ask for it at the police station when the FIR is registered.
- How can I download an FIR online?
- Most State police websites and citizen apps let you view or download FIRs by district, police station, FIR number and year. The Supreme Court (Youth Bar Association, 2016) directed uploads within 24 hours (up to 72 hours for connectivity problems), except sensitive cases such as sexual offences and POCSO cases.
- How can an accused get a copy of the FIR?
- By applying to the police officer or Superintendent of Police for a certified copy on paying the court copy fee — to be supplied within 24 hours — or, once the FIR has reached the court, by applying to the court, which is to give it within two working days (Youth Bar Association, 2016). Later, Section 230 BNSS gives the accused free copies of the FIR and police report.
- Do the police have to tell me about the progress of the investigation?
- Yes. Section 193(3)(ii) BNSS requires the police to inform the informant or victim about the progress of the investigation within 90 days, by any means including electronic communication. Ask in writing and keep the acknowledgement.
- How do I get a copy of the charge-sheet?
- The accused gets free copies of the police report and documents under Section 230 BNSS (old 207) within 14 days of production or appearance; the victim gets them if represented by an advocate. Others can apply to the court for certified copies under the High Court’s rules. Charge-sheets are not published online (Saurav Das, 2023).
- What can I do if the police file a closure report?
- The Magistrate must give notice to the informant and hear him or her before accepting it (Bhagwant Singh, 1985). You can file objections (a protest petition); the Magistrate may accept the report, order further investigation, or take cognizance.
- How do I check the court status of a criminal case?
- Use the eCourts Services website or app and search by CNR number, case number, party name or FIR number. It shows the next date and uploaded orders; confirm important dates with the court record.
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