Zero FIR

BNSS, 2023 — Section 173

An FIR registered at a police station that does not have territorial jurisdiction over the offence, which must then be transferred to the appropriate police station. Introduced by the BNSS 2023 (Section 173) formally, though it was directed by the Supreme Court in earlier decisions. Ensures that banking fraud complaints are registered immediately regardless of which police station a bank approaches.

A Zero FIR matters most in the opening hours of a banking-fraud complaint, when a bank discovers diversion or forgery but the relevant police station may sit in a different jurisdiction. Under Section 173 of the BNSS, 2023, the police station first approached must register the FIR immediately and then transfer it to the station with territorial jurisdiction, rather than turning the complainant away. For a creditor, this prevents the loss of crucial time — funds can be frozen, accounts flagged, and evidence preserved before the accused dissipates assets. For the accused, it means an FIR can originate far from where the alleged offence occurred, so defence counsel scrutinises whether the transfer and subsequent investigation followed the statutory route. Getting registration wrong — refusing to record, or mislabelling the offence — gives either side grounds to challenge the proceedings. Well-advised complainants insist on immediate registration and obtain a copy with the FIR number on record.