Odisha Police FIR Online: Register a Complaint and Understand the Law
Residents of Odisha can submit police complaints through the official Odisha Police online services and Citizen Portal. Where the facts disclose a cognizable offence, the legal rules for recording a First Information Report (FIR) are contained in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), in force from 1 July 2024. An online complaint acknowledgement and a registered FIR are not necessarily the same document.
Official Odisha Police complaint websites
Start with the Odisha Police official website and its Online Services page. The department's Citizen Portal login provides access to citizen services. The original service links include Complaint information and New user registration. If a direct link changes, navigate from the official Odisha Police homepage rather than using an unofficial intermediary.
How to submit a police complaint online in Odisha
- Open the official portal. Visit the Odisha Police website and select Online Services or open the Citizen Portal.
- Choose the complaint service. Read the eligibility and instructions for the type of complaint. A general grievance, lost-property report and information disclosing a cognizable offence may be handled differently.
- Register an account if required. Use the portal's sign-up option and provide the requested name, mobile number, email address, date of birth and login credentials. Complete any verification process displayed.
- Log in. Enter your user ID, password and security code or other authentication required by the current portal.
- Enter the incident details. Give the date, approximate time, location, description, names or identifying details known to you, and contact information. State facts accurately; do not guess missing particulars.
- Attach evidence where supported. Upload relevant documents, photographs, transaction records or other material in the formats and size limits specified on the portal.
- Submit and retain proof. Save the acknowledgement or reference number, a copy of the complaint and any messages from the police.
- Follow up. Check the portal or contact the concerned police station to establish whether an FIR has actually been recorded and to obtain its number and copy, if applicable.
Important: The available online services and individual screen labels can change. Filing a complaint on the portal does not guarantee that the system automatically generates a statutory FIR. For serious or urgent cognizable offences, contact the police station promptly.
Relevant provisions of BNSS 2023 explained
| Provision | Meaning and practical effect |
|---|---|
| Section 173(1) | Information about a cognizable offence may be given orally or by electronic communication to the officer in charge of a police station, irrespective of territorial jurisdiction. Oral information is reduced to writing and read over; electronically communicated information must be signed within three days to be taken on record. |
| Section 173(2) | A copy of the information recorded under section 173(1) must be given forthwith, free of cost, to the informant or victim. |
| Section 173(3) | For certain cognizable offences punishable with imprisonment of three years or more but less than seven years, the officer in charge may, with prior permission of an officer not below Deputy Superintendent of Police rank, conduct a preliminary enquiry within fourteen days or proceed with investigation, considering the nature and gravity of the offence. |
| Section 173(4) | Where the police station refuses to record the information, the aggrieved person may send its substance in writing and by post to the Superintendent of Police; further recourse to the Magistrate is provided by law. |
| Section 174 | Deals with information relating to non-cognizable offences and the procedure for referring the informant to a Magistrate; police investigation ordinarily requires a Magistrate's order. |
| Section 175(3) | Provides for a Magistrate's direction for investigation on an appropriate application, subject to the conditions laid down in the provision. |
The applicable penal offence may be under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), a special law or, for older events, the law applicable at the relevant time. The BNSS primarily governs criminal procedure. Consult the India Code official legislation database for the current statutory text.
Online complaint, FIR and Zero FIR: differences
Online complaint: A message or application submitted to the police. It may generate a tracking or acknowledgement number but is not necessarily a registered FIR.
FIR: The formal recording of information relating to a cognizable offence under section 173 BNSS. A copy is available free of cost to the informant or victim under section 173(2).
Zero FIR: An FIR recorded without insisting that the incident occurred within the police station's local jurisdiction. Section 173(1) expressly allows information irrespective of the area where the offence took place.
Information and documents to keep ready
- Complainant's full name, contact details and address.
- Date, time and location of the occurrence, as accurately known.
- Clear chronological account of the incident and the persons involved, if known.
- Relevant evidence such as photographs, documents, receipts, messages or transaction references.
- Portal acknowledgement number and any police station or FIR reference subsequently issued.
Only provide information necessary for the complaint. Do not publish identity documents or sensitive evidence on public websites. Additional information may be requested by the police according to the nature of the case.
What to do if the police do not register an FIR
If the information discloses a cognizable offence and the officer in charge refuses to record it, section 173(4) BNSS permits sending the substance of the information in writing and by post to the Superintendent of Police. Preserve a copy and proof of dispatch. If necessary, legal recourse before the competent Magistrate may be sought under section 175(3) BNSS, subject to its procedural requirements. For non-cognizable matters, section 174 sets out a different process.
How to check complaint status or obtain an FIR copy
Log in to the Odisha Police Citizen Portal and look for the complaint or service-status function currently available. Use your application or acknowledgement reference. If an FIR was registered, ask the concerned police station for the FIR number and free copy as provided by section 173(2) BNSS. For additional guidance see our Odisha FIR copy search and download guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can an FIR be reported online in Odisha?
A complaint can be submitted through the Odisha Police Citizen Portal where the service is available. For a cognizable offence, registration of an FIR is governed by section 173 of the BNSS; submitting a portal complaint does not by itself prove that an FIR has been registered.
Can the police register an FIR when the incident occurred outside their area?
Yes. Section 173(1) BNSS permits information about a cognizable offence to be given irrespective of where the offence occurred. This is commonly called a Zero FIR.
What is required after electronic reporting?
Under section 173(1)(ii) BNSS, electronically communicated information is taken on record on being signed by the informant within three days.
Is an FIR copy free?
Yes. Section 173(2) BNSS provides for a free copy of the recorded information to be given forthwith to the informant or victim.
What if the police refuse to record information?
Under section 173(4) BNSS, the substance may be sent in writing and by post to the Superintendent of Police. If the statutory remedy does not resolve the issue, the person may apply to the Magistrate in accordance with section 175(3) BNSS.
Updated: 4 November 2026. This page explains general procedures and does not replace official police instructions or case-specific legal advice. Portal availability and workflows may change.