Emergencies

Filing a police complaint (FIR)

How to give a complaint at any police station or online, get the free copy of the FIR, and what to do if a station refuses.

For whom: Anyone in Andhra Pradesh who wants to tell the police about a crime: victims, their families, or witnesses.

Published on 31-10-2026. Not every fact has been checked against its official source yet: confirm at the office.

In an emergency, call at once

📞 112

Emergency helpline (police), toll free

📞 100

Police

📞 181

Women Helpline

📞 1930

Cyber fraud helpline (money lost to an online or phone fraud)

Answer a few questions to see which steps apply to you. The whole guide is below.

The documents for this depend on your answers: answer the questions above to see yours.

Documents you need

Needed only in some situations

•

A copy of your written complaint (petition copy)

copy

The file you upload at "Upload Petition Copy" in the form. It is required.

• Online, from home (step 9)

If you don't have it:

Write what happened in your own words, and have a copy of it ready to upload.

Not confirmed: The pages we read do not say which file types or sizes the portal accepts.

•

An identity proof

original

The form asks for the type of identity proof, its number and its date of issue. You choose the type from the portal's list.

• Online, from home (step 10)

Not confirmed: Which cards are in that list shows only after login; we could not see it.

Steps

Each box is one situation. To see only yours, answer the questions above.

If anyone is in danger right now, call 112 first (toll free). After telling the police by phone, go to the police station in person so that the complaint is registered.

📞 By phone

Money lost to an online or phone fraud

Call 1930 at once, within the "golden hour". Then file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.

📞 By phone

At a police station

The AP Police portal says to go to the police station of the area where it happened. But the law lets you give information about a cognizable offence (one for which the police may arrest without a warrant) at any police station, even if it happened in another station's area. This is called a "Zero FIR".

🏛️ A police station (any)

Tell the officer in charge what happened, orally or in writing. If you tell it orally, the officer must write it down and read it back to you. Check that it is right, then sign it.

🏛️ Police station

A sexual offence against a woman (such as rape, sexual harassment or stalking), or an acid attack

When the woman herself gives information about a sexual offence or an acid attack against her, a woman police officer or another woman officer must record it.

🏛️ Police station

If the person has a temporary or permanent mental or physical disability, the police must record the information at their home or a place they choose, with an interpreter or a special educator present. The recording is videographed.

✋ You do this yourself

In a rape case, the victim's statement must be taken at her home or a place she chooses, as far as possible by a woman police officer, with her parents, guardian, a near relative or a local social worker present. It may also be recorded by audio-video means, including a mobile phone.

✋ You do this yourself

Online, from home

Log in to the AP Police citizen services portal with your mobile number and the OTP sent to it. The first time, "Register" with your contact and address details.

💻 AP Police citizen services portal

Open the official page ↗

citizen.appolice.gov.in · opens in a new tab

Open "Submit A Complaint". Choose the district or commissionerate and the police station. Write the subject, the place of the incident and brief facts. Upload a copy of your written complaint.

💻 AP Police: Submit a Complaint

Open the official page ↗

citizen.appolice.gov.in · opens in a new tab

📎 A copy of your written complaint (petition copy)

10.

Fill in your details, address and identity proof. If you know who the complaint is against, give their details too. Check everything, then press "Submit Complaint".

💻 AP Police: Submit a Complaint

Open the official page ↗

citizen.appolice.gov.in · opens in a new tab

📎 An identity proof

11.

Write down the Petition ID shown on the screen. A confirmation with the reference number comes to your mobile within 30 minutes. Later you can see its status under "Search Petition" with the Petition ID and your name.

💻 AP Police: Search Petition

Open the official page ↗

citizen.appolice.gov.in · opens in a new tab

12.

The law says information given by electronic communication is taken on record when you sign it within 3 days.

🏛️ The police station your complaint went to

⏱️ within 3 days · Sign within 3 days.

Not confirmed: The state pages we read do not say where or how to sign an online complaint. Ask at the police station your complaint went to.

13.

Ask for a copy of the recorded information (the FIR). It must be given at once, free of cost, to the informant or the victim.

🏛️ Police station

💰 Fee: Free · Free

14.

Once the FIR is registered, log in to the portal and open "View FIR". Choose the district and police station and enter the FIR number to see its details. You can also download the FIR.

💻 AP Police: View FIR

Open the official page ↗

citizen.appolice.gov.in · opens in a new tab

15.

For offences punishable with 3 years or more but less than 7 years, the officer in charge may, with the permission of an officer of at least Deputy Superintendent of Police rank, first hold a preliminary enquiry within 14 days to see whether there is a case.

✋ You do this yourself

⏱️ within 14 days · The preliminary enquiry within 14 days.

16.

Within 90 days, the police must tell the informant or the victim how the investigation is progressing. They may do it by any means, including electronic communication.

✋ You do this yourself

⏱️ within 90 days · Within 90 days.

17.

For free legal help, contact your District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), or call the toll-free number 15100.

🏛️ District Legal Services Authority

💰 Fee: Legal services are free for the weaker sections of society.

Fees and time limits

Step 12

• Online, from home

⏱️ within 3 days · Sign within 3 days.

Step 13

💰 Free · Free

Step 15

⏱️ within 14 days · The preliminary enquiry within 14 days.

Step 16

⏱️ within 90 days · Within 90 days.

Step 17

💰 Legal services are free for the weaker sections of society.

If something goes wrong

If it is rejected

If the officer in charge refuses to record your information, write down its substance and send it by post to the Superintendent of Police concerned. If satisfied that it shows a cognizable offence, the SP investigates the case or has an officer under them investigate it.

Office of the district Superintendent of Police, by post

Not confirmed: Where a city has a Commissioner of Police (a commissionerate), the official pages we read do not say who receives this letter; the Act names the Superintendent of Police. Ask at the Commissioner's office.

Also

If the SP also does not act, you can apply to the Magistrate, with an affidavit. After any inquiry the Magistrate thinks necessary, and after hearing the police officer, the Magistrate may order an investigation. For free legal help with the application, ask the District Legal Services Authority.

The Magistrate's court; for free legal aid, the District Legal Services Authority

📞 15100

Also

If the police say the offence is non-cognizable (one for which they cannot arrest without a warrant), they enter its substance in a book and refer you to the Magistrate. They cannot investigate it without the Magistrate's order.

The Magistrate's court

If it is late

If you hear nothing about the investigation within 90 days, check the status under "View FIR" on the portal, or go to the police station with your FIR number and ask.

AP Police: View FIR; or the police station where the FIR was registered

Open the official page ↗

citizen.appolice.gov.in · opens in a new tab

Updated on 31-10-2026

Sahayam is not a government service. We take no applications, documents or money.

About Sahayam

Documents you need

•

A copy of your written complaint (petition copy)

copy

The file you upload at "Upload Petition Copy" in the form. It is required.

If you don't have it:

Write what happened in your own words, and have a copy of it ready to upload.

Not confirmed: The pages we read do not say which file types or sizes the portal accepts.

•

An identity proof

original

The form asks for the type of identity proof, its number and its date of issue. You choose the type from the portal's list.

Not confirmed: Which cards are in that list shows only after login; we could not see it.

Fees and time limits

Step 12

⏱️ within 3 days · Sign within 3 days.

Step 13

💰 Free · Free

Step 15

⏱️ within 14 days · The preliminary enquiry within 14 days.

Step 16

⏱️ within 90 days · Within 90 days.

Step 17

💰 Legal services are free for the weaker sections of society.

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Documents you need

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Fees and time limits

If something goes wrong

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