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Fact CheckedLast Updated: 21 July 2026Reviewed By: ComplaintAdda Criminal Law Advisory Cell

Zero FIR Legal Guide & Transfer Procedure under BNSS 2023

A Zero FIR is an invaluable legal mechanism codified into Indian criminal procedure that enables any victim or informant to register a First Information Report (FIR) for a cognizable offence at **ANY police station in India**, irrespective of where the crime took place or which police station possesses territorial jurisdiction. Historically originating through executive circulars and judicial rulings, Zero FIR has been explicitly codified under **Section 173(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023** (effective July 1, 2024). Under BNSS Section 173(1), if a crime occurs outside a police station's territorial boundaries, the receiving station cannot turn away the victim; it is legally obligated to register the report under serial number **'0' (Zero)**, initiate immediate medical assistance, record forensic evidence, conduct initial investigation, and then formally transfer the case file to the jurisdictional police station where it is re-assigned a regular serial number. Zero FIR eliminates dangerous jurisdictional disputes (police station 'boundary wars') during critical emergency hours—such as in violent assaults, sexual crimes, hit-and-run accidents, kidnapping, or interstate cyber financial frauds—ensuring that law enforcement officers act swiftly to protect life and preserve perishable evidence.

What Is It

A Zero FIR is a First Information Report registered at a non-jurisdictional police station that carries '0' as its serial number instead of a sequential yearly number. Key statutory features under BNSS 2023 include: (1) Universal Registration Mandate: Under BNSS Section 173(1), no police officer can refuse to record information about a cognizable offence on the grounds that the incident occurred outside their territorial jurisdiction. (2) Immediate Action & Medical/Forensic Care: The receiving station must take urgent initial measures—such as dispatching the victim for medical examination (MLC), securing CCTV footage, or arresting escaping suspects—before transferring the file. (3) Statutory Inter-Station Transfer: Upon completing emergency procedures, the Zero FIR and physical case records are officially transferred via Speed Post / police transit to the police station holding proper territorial jurisdiction, where it is assigned a standard serial number. (4) Mandatory Free Copy: Under BNSS Section 173(2), the informant must be provided an unpriced, stamped copy of the Zero FIR instantly.

When To Use It

Use a Zero FIR whenever a serious cognizable crime occurs while traveling in a train, highway bus, or foreign city; during medical emergencies when the nearest hospital/police station is outside the crime zone; in sexual assault or domestic violence cases where the victim has fled to a safe city; or in interstate cyber fraud cases where quick bank freeze action is required.

Step-by-Step Process

  1. 1Step 1: Locate the Nearest Police Station Instantly. In an emergency, visit the nearest police station regardless of jurisdiction boundaries or district/state borders (or contact Police Emergency Helpline 112).
  2. 2Step 2: Explicitly Demand Registration of a 'Zero FIR'. Inform the Station House Officer (SHO) or duty officer: 'I am filing a Zero FIR under Section 173(1) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023'.
  3. 3Step 3: Provide Full Written Statement of Facts. Write or dictate the exact details of the offence, specifying the place of occurrence, date, time, identities/descriptions of the accused, witnesses, and immediate losses/injuries.
  4. 4Step 4: Insist on Immediate Emergency Measures. Request the police station to conduct an immediate Medico-Legal Case (MLC) examination if physically injured, preserve local CCTV footage, or issue hold requests to bank fraud cells.
  5. 5Step 5: Obtain Stamped Certified Copy of Zero FIR (BNSS Section 173(2)). Ensure the document prominently displays the FIR Number as '0' (Zero), bears the official police station stamp, and is signed by the receiving SHO. Obtain your free copy.
  6. 6Step 6: Track Transfer to Jurisdictional Police Station. Note down the Dispatch Serial Number and transit details. The Zero FIR file will be transferred to the home police station, where a regular FIR number will be assigned. You can track investigation updates on the CCTNS portal (cctns.gov.in) or by visiting the home police station.

Documents Required

  • Government Identity Proof (Aadhaar Card, Passport, Driving License, or Voter ID)
  • Written Incident Report detailing exact location, date, and timeline of the crime
  • Hospital Medical / MLC Certificate or Emergency Discharge Summary (if injured)
  • Train/Bus/Airline Tickets, GPS Location History, or Hotel Stay Receipts establishing transit/crime location
  • Cyber Fraud Bank Passbook / UPI Transaction Receipts (if financial theft occurred)
  • Photographs of injuries, damaged property, or CCTV video evidence

Fees

100% Free. Under BNSS Section 173(2), registering a Zero FIR and obtaining its certified copy is completely free of charge across all police stations in India.

Processing Time

Zero FIR registration must be done IMMEDIATELY without delay. Police station transfer to the jurisdictional police station typically occurs within 24 to 72 hours via police transit or registered post.

Important Tips

  • Explicitly quote 'Section 173(1) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023' if a police officer hesitates to record your complaint due to lack of territorial jurisdiction.
  • Refusal by a police officer to record a Zero FIR in offences concerning sexual violence, severe bodily harm, or vulnerable citizens is a punishable criminal offence under BNS Section 199 (old IPC 166A).
  • Always demand that immediate medical examination (MLC) or crime scene evidence recording be conducted before the file is dispatched to another station.
  • Keep the Zero FIR copy safe; its serial '0' document number guarantees priority status when the home police station receives the case file.
  • Use the CCTNS Citizen Portal (cctns.gov.in) or state police web portals to track the regular FIR serial number assigned post-transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Zero FIR is a First Information Report registered at a police station that does not have territorial jurisdiction over the place of crime. Because every police station maintains a sequential annual register for offences committed within its borders (e.g., FIR No. 101/2026), an out-of-jurisdiction complaint is assigned serial number '0' so it does not distort the station's annual crime register before being transferred.
Zero FIR is explicitly codified under Section 173(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 (effective July 1, 2024). Section 173(1) mandates that information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence, irrespective of the area where it was committed, may be provided orally or electronically to an officer-in-charge of ANY police station.
NO. Under BNSS Section 173(1) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directives, no police station can refuse a Zero FIR. Refusal by police officers to register a Zero FIR in serious offences (such as sexual assault, violent crimes, or crimes against women) constitutes a punishable offence under BNS Section 199 (old IPC Section 166A), invoking imprisonment up to two years and departmental inquiry.
After recording the Zero FIR and taking emergency steps (such as medical examination or crime scene preservation), the receiving police station creates a certified transit package. This file is formally transferred to the officer-in-charge of the jurisdictional police station via official police messenger or Special Speed Post. Upon receipt, the home police station converts the Zero FIR into a regular FIR with a new serial number.
The police station recording a Zero FIR cannot simply forward paperwork; it is legally obligated to take immediate emergency measures: (1) Arrange Medico-Legal Case (MLC) examination and treatment if the victim is injured. (2) Seal and record physical crime scene evidence. (3) Request immediate bank freezes in cyber financial frauds. (4) Apprehend fleeing suspects if in the vicinity.
YES. A Zero FIR carries full statutory evidentiary value under Section 173 of BNSS, 2023. Courts treat the statement recorded in a Zero FIR as the initial prompt information of the crime. Once transferred and assigned a regular serial number, all evidence collected during the Zero FIR stage is fully admissible in court trials.
When receiving a copy of the Zero FIR, obtain the official Dispatch Serial Number and transit memo details. You can track the re-registered regular FIR number by entering the Zero FIR details on the National CCTNS Citizen Portal (cctns.gov.in) or by contacting the Superintendent of Police (SP) of the receiving district.
YES. Cyber financial frauds operating across multiple states (e.g., money debited in Delhi but transferred to bank accounts in West Bengal) are ideally suited for Zero FIR. Filing a Zero FIR at any local cyber police station enables law enforcement to trigger immediate inter-bank freezing orders under National Cyber Helpline 1930 before transferring the case file.
A Zero FIR is a physical or official FIR registered at a police station outside its territorial jurisdiction (carrying serial '0'). An e-FIR is an FIR submitted digitally via web portals/apps. Under BNSS Section 173(1), an e-FIR can also be recorded as a Zero FIR if filed online for an incident occurring in another jurisdiction, provided it is signed physically within 3 days.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify with the official source before acting.