If you want to check whether an FIR has been registered in Mumbai & Maharashtra, you can use the Maharashtra Police Citizen Portal to search and view published FIR records online.
The Maharashtra Police Citizen Portal provides a facility called “Search & View Published FIR”. Citizens can search using details such as the date range, police unit, district, police station and FIR number. To search related FIRs in Mumbai you need to choose option "Brihan Mumbai" under option Unit.
Table of Contents
- What is an FIR?
- Can You Search for an FIR Online in Maharashtra?
- How to Search for an FIR Online
- What Information Can You See in an FIR?
- Why an FIR May Not Appear Online
- Can You Search an FIR by Name?
- FIR, Police Complaint and NC – What's the Difference?
- What to Do If You Cannot Find an FIR
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Official Maharashtra Police FIR Search
1. What is an FIR?
FIR stands for First Information Report. It is the formal recording by the police of information relating to a cognizable offence.
An FIR contains important information about the reported incident and provides the basis for the police investigation. It generally includes details such as the police station, FIR number, date and time, complainant or informant and the substance of the information reported to the police.
Under the current criminal procedure framework, the registration of information relating to cognizable offences is dealt with under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS).
2. Can You Search for an FIR Online in Mumbai/Maharashtra?
Yes. Maharashtra Police provides an online Search & View Published FIR facility through its Citizen Portal.
The search page provides fields for:
- Date From
- Date To
- Police Unit
- District
- Police Station
- FIR Number
The current portal states that the search date must be after 1 January 2017 and that the difference between the From and To dates must be less than 90 days.
This means that if you want to search a period longer than 90 days, you will need to conduct separate searches for different date ranges.
3. How to Search for an FIR Online
The process is self explanatory. See the screenshot of the portal below or visit the site: https://citizen.mahapolice.gov.in/citizen/mh/PublishedFIRs.aspx
Step 1: Open the Maharashtra Police Citizen Portal
Go to the official Maharashtra Police Citizen Portal and open the Search & View Published FIR service.
Step 2: Select the Date Range
Enter the From Date and To Date.
If you know approximately when the FIR was registered, use a narrow date range. The portal currently limits the search period to less than 90 days.
Step 3: Select the Police Unit
Select the relevant police unit from the available list.
The police unit may correspond to a city commissionerate or a district police unit, depending on where the FIR was registered.
Step 4: Select the District and Police Station
Select the appropriate district and police station, if known.
If you know the police station where the FIR was registered, selecting it can make the search more specific.
Step 5: Enter the FIR Number
If you know the FIR number, enter it in the relevant field.
If you do not know the FIR number, you can use the other available search fields to look for published records.
Step 6: Submit the Search
Submit the search after entering the available information. If a matching published FIR is available, the search results can be opened to view the FIR details.
4. What Information Can You See in an FIR?
The published FIR format on the Maharashtra Police portal can contain information such as:
- District
- Police station
- FIR number and year
- Date and time
- General Diary reference
- Complainant or informant details
- Details of known, suspected or unknown accused persons
- Details of property involved, where applicable
- Total value of stolen property, where applicable
- Details relating to an inquest or accidental death case, where applicable
- The contents of the First Information
The actual information visible will depend on the particular FIR published on the portal.
5. Why an FIR May Not Appear Online
If you cannot find an FIR through the Maharashtra Police online search, it does not necessarily mean that no FIR has been registered.
Some possible reasons include:
- The search details may be incorrect.
- The wrong police unit, district or police station may have been selected.
- The date range may not include the registration date.
- The FIR may not be available as a published record on the portal.
- The FIR may be subject to restrictions on publication or disclosure.
If you know that an FIR has been registered but cannot locate it online, contact the concerned police station for further information.
6. Can You Search an FIR by Name?
The Maharashtra Police Search & View Published FIR facility is not primarily a general name-based FIR search.
The search interface is based mainly on registration and jurisdiction details such as:
- Date range
- Police unit
- District
- Police station
- FIR number
Therefore, if you are trying to locate a particular FIR, having the police station, approximate registration date or FIR number will generally be more useful than relying only on a person's name.
7. FIR, Police Complaint and NC – What's the Difference?
FIR, police complaint and NC are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they do not necessarily refer to the same thing.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| FIR | First Information Report relating to information about a cognizable offence recorded by the police. |
| Police Complaint | Information or an allegation given to the police about an incident or offence. Depending on the nature of the matter, it may lead to an FIR or another police record. |
| NC | A Non-Cognizable report relates to a non-cognizable offence, which is dealt with under a different investigation procedure. |
A complaint submitted to the police does not automatically mean that an FIR has been registered. The nature of the alleged offence and the applicable legal procedure determine how the matter is recorded and investigated.
8. What to Do If You Cannot Find an FIR
If your search does not produce the FIR you are looking for, check the following:
- Check the FIR number and year, if available.
- Confirm that you have selected the correct police unit.
- Check the district and police station.
- Check the date range and make sure it includes the FIR registration date.
- Remember that the online portal limits a search to less than 90 days at a time.
- Contact the concerned police station if the FIR still cannot be located.
For court proceedings or other legal purposes, citizens should obtain the appropriate official or certified document from the relevant authority where required.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
Can I search for an FIR online in Maharashtra?
Yes. Maharashtra Police provides a Search & View Published FIR facility through its Citizen Portal.
Do I need the FIR number to search?
No. The search facility also provides fields such as date range, police unit, district and police station. However, the FIR number can make it easier to locate a particular record.
Can I search an FIR using a person's name?
The published FIR search facility is not primarily a name-based search. It uses FIR registration and police jurisdiction details such as date, police unit, district, police station and FIR number.
How far back can I search for an FIR?
The current Maharashtra Police portal states that the From Date must be after 1 January 2017.
Can I search more than 90 days at once?
No. The current portal states that the difference between the From Date and To Date must be less than 90 days. For a longer period, separate searches can be carried out.
Can I download an FIR online?
A published FIR can be opened and viewed through the Maharashtra Police portal. The options available for printing or saving a particular record may depend on the portal interface and the record.
Why can't I find an FIR that I know exists?
The FIR may not be available as a published record, or the search details may be incorrect. Check the police unit, district, police station, FIR number and date range. If necessary, contact the concerned police station.
Does an FIR mean that a person is guilty?
No. An FIR records information relating to an alleged offence and may initiate a police investigation. Registration of an FIR by itself does not establish guilt.
10. Official Maharashtra Police FIR Search
The official Maharashtra Police Citizen Portal provides the Search & View Published FIR facility.
Use the official government portal rather than third-party websites when searching for an FIR.
Search & View Published FIR – Maharashtra Police
Official portal: Maharashtra Police Citizen Portal
Note: Online FIR information is provided through the Maharashtra Police Citizen Portal. The availability of a record online does not replace the official records maintained by the police or courts.
