CrPC Section 154

BNSS Section 173— Information in cognizable cases.

Effective for any FIR, charge sheet, or filing on or after 1 July 2024. Matters that arose before that date continue under the CrPC.

Every cognizable offence FIR may be given orally or by electronic communication to the officer in charge of a police station; oral information must be reduced to writing, read over, and signed, while electronic information must be signed within three days. Special protections apply for women and disabled victims of sexual offences, including recording by a woman officer, at the victim's residence, with videography, and subsequent Magistrate statement. A new preliminary enquiry mechanism (up to 14 days, with DSP-level permission) is introduced for offences punishable with 3–7 years. A person aggrieved by refusal to register an FIR may approach the Superintendent of Police or, failing that, the Magistrate.