First Information Report (FIR)
The first recorded information given to police about the commission of a cognizable offence.
In Simple Terms
The official first report that kicks off a police investigation into a crime.
Detailed Legal Meaning
An FIR is the information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence, reduced to writing by an officer in charge of a police station, which sets the criminal investigative process in motion. It is not itself substantive evidence but can be used to corroborate or contradict the informant's testimony.
Relevant Acts & Sections
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023Search on India Code ↗
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (predecessor provision)Search on India Code ↗
Common Court Usage
Its registration, or a refusal to register one, is frequently the subject of writ petitions seeking a direction to the police.