In short: In Maharashtra, most FIRs are uploaded to the Maharashtra Police citizen portal, where you can search by district, police station and date. Sensitive cases, such as sexual offences, are not published, and uploads are sometimes delayed. If you cannot find anything, you can ask the police station in writing, check court records on eCourts once a case reaches court, and take advice on anticipatory bail if you have a real reason to fear arrest.
Why you may not be told an FIR exists
Police are not required to call the accused when an FIR is registered. Many people learn about a case only when they receive a notice or someone comes to their door. Also, a complaint does not always become an FIR at once:
- FIR: Under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), formerly Section 154 CrPC, information about a cognizable offence must be recorded as an FIR.
- Preliminary enquiry: For certain offences punishable with three to seven years, the police may first conduct a preliminary enquiry, within 14 days, before registering an FIR.
- Complaint application: Often the other side gives a written application, and the police “call both parties” before deciding. No FIR exists at that stage.
In Youth Bar Association of India v. Union of India (2016), the Supreme Court directed police to upload FIRs online, except sensitive ones such as sexual offences, offences against children, and insurgency or terrorism cases. So an FIR can exist without appearing online.
Method 1: Maharashtra Police citizen portal FIR search
- Open the official Maharashtra Police citizen portal and choose the FIR search option.
- Select the district (for example Pune City or Pimpri-Chinchwad) and the police station where the complaint is likely to have been made.
- Enter a date range. Search a few weeks around the dispute, not just one day.
- Open the results and read the FIR copy, which is usually in Marathi.
What you will and will not see:
| You can usually see | You usually cannot see |
|---|---|
| FIR number, date, police station and sections | Sensitive FIRs (sexual offences, POCSO and similar) |
| Names of the complainant and accused, as written | A reliable search by your own name |
| The complainant’s narrative | Complaint applications that are not yet FIRs |
| The FIR as registered | Later developments such as arrest, charge-sheet or bail |
When you read the FIR, look for the sections (top of the form), the date and time of the alleged incident, the delay in reporting, and whether you are named or described only as “unknown”. If you cannot read Marathi, get a trusted translation before you decide anything. Remember that an FIR is only the complainant’s version. It is not a finding that you did anything.
A complaint can also be registered at a police station anywhere, even outside the area where the incident happened, and then transferred to the station with jurisdiction. This is often called a “zero FIR”. If you cannot find a case at the station you expected, it may have been registered elsewhere first.
If the complaint was made at a different station than you expect, or the date filter is too narrow, you may miss it. Searching nearby stations helps.
Method 2: Ask for the FIR copy or the complaint status
A written request is a normal and lawful step. It also creates a record that you were willing to cooperate.
- Write to the police station, addressed to the Senior Police Inspector. Ask whether any FIR or complaint application concerning you is pending, and request a copy of the FIR if one exists.
- Send it by email and also submit a hard copy, keeping the stamped acknowledgement.
- Keep the tone neutral. Do not argue the merits in this letter.
The person who made the complaint is entitled to a free copy of the FIR. An accused can apply to the court for a certified copy once the FIR has been sent to the Magistrate. After the police file their final report (charge-sheet), Section 230 BNSS (formerly 207 CrPC) entitles the accused to copies of the police report and documents relied on.
Method 3: eCourts and court records
The eCourts services website and app let you search court cases by party name, case number or CNR number for a chosen court complex, such as the Pune District Court.
- A criminal case normally appears there only after it reaches court: when a charge-sheet is filed and registered, or when a bail or other application is filed.
- Spellings vary, so try different versions of your name and your father’s name.
- “No summons” does not mean “no charge-sheet”. Summons can be delayed or sent to an old address. If you know a case number, check its status.
Found an FIR: what next in the first 72 hours
- Read the sections carefully. Note whether they are bailable or non-bailable, and whether the maximum punishment is up to seven years or more. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replaced the IPC, so an FIR after 1 July 2024 will cite BNS sections.
- Understand the arrest risk. For offences punishable up to seven years, police usually issue a notice under Section 35(3) BNSS (formerly 41A CrPC) instead of arresting straight away.
- Consider anticipatory bail. For serious sections, or if arrest seems planned, an application for anticipatory bail under Section 482 BNSS (formerly 438 CrPC) may be advisable.
- Think about quashing later, not first. If the FIR is plainly false or a settled dispute, FIR quashing under Section 528 BNSS (formerly 482 CrPC) before the Bombay High Court may be an option. It takes time and does not replace immediate protection. Our note on remedies against a false FIR in Pune covers this.
- Preserve your evidence: chats, emails, payments and witnesses that support your side.
Found nothing: should you still act?
Perhaps. If you have been threatened with a case, or the police have called you, a complaint application may be pending even though no FIR exists. Keep copies of everything that shows your side, and keep a note of any calls from the police.
Anticipatory bail can be sought even before an FIR. In Sushila Aggarwal v. State (NCT of Delhi) (2020), the Supreme Court held that the applicant must show a reasonable apprehension of arrest based on concrete facts, not a vague fear. Where there is only a general threat, an application may not succeed. For an overview of how criminal cases move, see criminal defence.
If you need advice on your situation, you can contact the office.
Related
- Anticipatory bail
- Police notice under Section 35 BNSS
- FIR quashing
- False FIR in Pune: legal remedies
- Criminal defence
Frequently asked questions
Can I file anticipatory bail without an FIR?
Yes, where there is a reasonable apprehension of arrest based on concrete facts, such as a pending complaint, a police call or a notice. Courts look at the material you show, not just your fear.
Why can’t I find my FIR online?
Common reasons are that the FIR falls in a sensitive category that is not uploaded, the upload is delayed, or you selected the wrong police station or date range. It may also be that only a complaint application exists so far.
Will asking at the police station make things worse?
Generally no. A polite written request, often sent through an advocate, is a normal step. It creates a record that you came forward and were willing to cooperate.
How do I get a certified FIR copy?
The complainant gets a copy from the police station. An accused can apply to the Magistrate’s court for a certified copy after the FIR has been sent there. Copies of the full police report are supplied once the charge-sheet is filed.
What happens if an FIR is filed against me?
The police investigate. They may call you with a notice, arrest you in some cases, and eventually file a charge-sheet or a closure report. Your options at each stage include replying to notices, anticipatory or regular bail, and in suitable cases quashing.
This article explains the law in general terms and is not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.