If you lodge a criminal offence at any police station in the state, you can now get a copy by email or via WhatsApp.
State police chief, director general Praveen Dixit, has directed the police heads of all cities (commissioners) and of all districts (superintendents) across the state to make available copies of first information reports (FIR) to complainants through WhatsApp or email. This has to done immediately after registration of cognizable offences, as is mandatory.
The state police chief’s instruction follows complaints made by the public to senior police officials that the police delay handing over copies of FIRs. And, in cases of petty crimes, they do not give these copies, forcing complainants to run from pillar to post, bribe policemen or at times knock on the doors of the courts to get a true copy.
Dixit’s order states that a hard copy should also be given to complainants.