Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 provides a procedure for lodging an FIR. There is no fee or charges for the FIR (first information report). The officer in charge of the police station shall record the information about a cognisable offence without any fee. Thereafter, he gives a copy of FIR to the informant at the free of cost.
It is the duty of every citizen to inform the officer in charge of nearest police station about the commission of cognisable offence. Section 39 of the code of criminal procedure casts such a duty upon every person. The government plays the role of prosecution in the criminal cases.
Police has the power to initiate investigation in cognisable offence without warrant and order of the Magistrate. Hence, free flow of information will enable the police to lodge an FIR quickly. Demand of money for FIR will frustrate the object of section 39 & 154 crpc.
No fee for FIR
Section 154 crpc therefore, does not require any fee or charge for the FIR. FIR sets the criminal law in motion. Therefore, early information of crime shall enable the police officer to start investigation at earliest. During the course of investigation, the police officer (investigating officer) proceeds to the place of occurrence, collects evidence and arrests the accused. Thus police can arrest the accused and collect vital evidence at early stage if he gets information on time.
Also read: What is the procedure for recording of FIR
If the police officer demands any fee or money for the recording of an FIR, the informant should send the substance of the information to the superintendent of police (SP) by a registered post. The SP upon receiving the information, either himself investigate the offence or depute a subordinate officer for investigation. So, the officer in charge of the police station is not the sole person authorised to register FIR.
Any demand of fee or charge for FIR is amount to gratification and is an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Thus do not give money to the police officer for the recording of FIR. The police officer is bound to register FIR if information discloses cognisable offence. Thus he cannot demand money for lodging of FIR.
