Mumbai Police | Maharashtra | Updated October 2026

Mumbai Police Online Complaint and FIR Registration: Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to submit an online complaint to Mumbai Police, when a police-station FIR is necessary, what Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 provides, and how to follow up on your report.

Important distinction: The Mumbai Police online complaint form expressly states that it handles complaints about minor, non-cognizable matters. For serious cognizable crimes, contact a police station without delay. Sending a web complaint does not automatically mean an FIR has been registered.

On this page

How to file an online complaint
How to report a cognizable offence
Current FIR law under BNSS Section 173
Acknowledgement, FIR copy and follow-up
Frequently asked questions

How to submit a Mumbai Police online complaint

The official Mumbai Police website provides an Online Complaint facility. Its current form may be used for matters eligible for online complaint submission, subject to police review.

Open the official portal. Visit mumbaipolice.gov.in and choose Online Complaint under the reporting services.
Enter your contact details. Supply your full name, contact number, email address and relevant address information, including city, state and PIN code where requested.
Describe the incident. Explain what happened, where and when it happened, the persons involved if known, and the assistance requested. Use accurate facts.
Attach evidence if useful. The current form permits file uploads and indicates a maximum of 3 MB per file; confirm limits on the live page.
Complete the declaration and CAPTCHA. Review the information, then submit the complaint through the official form.
Save the acknowledgement. Retain any reference number, confirmation screen, email or message, and respond if the police ask for further details or a statement.

Historical screenshot of the Mumbai Police online complaint form — Earlier Mumbai Police complaint-form screenshot retained for reference. The current online form and fields may differ.

The older form described fields such as police station, subject, complaint type, complainant name, postal address, telephone number, email verification code and complaint details. Those instructions remain useful as historical context, but use the labels and validation steps displayed by the current official form rather than relying on an old screenshot.

How to register an FIR for a cognizable crime in Mumbai

An FIR (First Information Report) is the formal record of information about a cognizable offence, such as theft, robbery or other serious crimes. Mumbai Police advises people reporting such crimes to approach a police station. In an emergency, call 112 or the police emergency number 100.

Contact the nearest police station or the appropriate police control room promptly. Under the law, information about a cognizable offence may be given regardless of the place where it occurred (often called a Zero FIR).
State the date, time, location, sequence of events and available evidence. Ask that the information be recorded under BNSS Section 173 if it discloses a cognizable offence.
Read the recorded information carefully before signing. If you communicate electronically, follow the statutory signature requirement described below.
Ask for your free copy of the recorded FIR and note the FIR number, police station and year.

For cybercrime, report through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. For urgent financial cyber fraud, call 1930 promptly. This does not replace emergency police assistance when immediate danger exists.

Legal provisions: Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) generally governs criminal procedure for cases to which it applies from 1 July 2024. Earlier cases may remain subject to transitional or saving provisions.

Section 173(1): Information about cognizable offences

Information concerning a cognizable offence can be provided orally or by electronic communication to the officer in charge of a police station, irrespective of where the offence occurred. Oral information is reduced to writing and signed. Information provided electronically is taken on record when signed by the informant within three days. Special safeguards apply to recording reports of specified offences against women and persons with disabilities.

Section 173(2): Free copy of the FIR

A copy of the information recorded under Section 173(1) must be supplied forthwith and free of cost to the informant or the victim. This statutory entitlement is distinct from any online viewing service.

Section 173(3): Preliminary enquiry in specified cases

For a cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment of three years or more but less than seven years, the officer in charge may, with prior permission from an officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police and considering the nature and gravity of the offence, undertake a preliminary enquiry within the prescribed period of fourteen days to determine whether a prima facie case exists, or proceed with investigation where a prima facie case exists.

Section 173(4): Refusal to record information

If the officer in charge refuses to record information about a cognizable offence, the aggrieved person may send the substance of the information in writing and by post to the Superintendent of Police concerned. If satisfied that it discloses a cognizable offence, that officer shall investigate or direct investigation. If relief is not obtained, the person may approach the Magistrate as provided by law.

Section 174: Non-cognizable cases

Section 174 addresses information about non-cognizable offences, including recording the substance of the information and referring the informant to the Magistrate. Police ordinarily cannot investigate a non-cognizable case without a Magistrate's order, subject to the statutory provisions.

Track your complaint and obtain an FIR copy

Keep the acknowledgement or complaint reference issued after an online submission. The complaint may be referred to a police station for clarification or a statement. A complaint acknowledgement number is not necessarily an FIR number. To confirm whether an FIR was registered, contact the concerned station and request the FIR number and a copy if entitled.

The Maharashtra Police Citizen Portal provides citizen services that may include complaint and FIR-related functions depending on the available service and login requirements. You can also consult the Ministry of Home Affairs Digital Police portal for state citizen services.

Useful official websites

Frequently asked questions

Can I register an FIR using the Mumbai Police online complaint form?

Not automatically. The current Mumbai Police form states that it accepts minor, non-cognizable complaints and directs persons reporting cognizable crimes to a police station. BNSS Section 173 separately recognises electronic communication of cognizable-offence information, subject to its legal requirements.

Is the police required to give a free FIR copy?

Yes. BNSS Section 173(2) requires a free copy of recorded information to be given forthwith to the informant or victim.

Can I report a crime that occurred outside my local police-station area?

Yes. Section 173(1) permits reporting a cognizable offence irrespective of the area where it occurred. The matter can then be handled according to jurisdictional procedure.

Does an email confirmation prove that an FIR exists?

No. An acknowledgement confirms receipt of a complaint or submission, not necessarily registration of an FIR. Obtain the FIR number and copy from the police to verify formal registration.