RTI for Rajasthan Police — FIR Status, Complaint and Case Diary

Rajasthan citizens who have filed a police complaint or FIR frequently face an information vacuum: the complaint was submitted, weeks or months have passed, and there is no official update on whether an FIR was even registered, who is investigating the matter, or whether any court proceedings have begun. The Right to Information Act, 2005 provides a direct legal tool to address this gap. Rajasthan Police — from individual police stations to the State Police Headquarters — is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act and is legally bound to respond to RTI applications within 30 days of receipt, or within 48 hours where the matter involves the life or liberty of a person. A failure to respond within this period constitutes a deemed refusal, giving the applicant the right to file a First Appeal and, if necessary, a Second Appeal before the Rajasthan State Information Commission (RSIC). This guide explains precisely what information you can obtain, which office to approach, how to file, how to frame your questions, the limits of the case diary exemption, and how the appeal process works.

What RTI Can Help You Get from Rajasthan Police

RTI to Rajasthan Police can obtain factual, procedural, and administrative information about your FIR, complaint, or related police matter. Citizens regularly use these applications to achieve the following:

• Obtain a certified copy of your FIR — including every section of law (IPC, BNS, or other applicable statute) under which it was registered — if the police station did not provide one at registration or later refused to do so
• Confirm whether your written complaint was entered in the General Diary (GDE) at the police station, and if so, the GDE entry number and date
• Obtain the written reason for non-registration of your complaint as an FIR, and the name and designation of the SHO or officer who made that decision
• Find out the current broad stage of investigation — whether inquiry is ongoing, a charge sheet has been filed before a court, or the case has been closed as untraced, false, civil in nature, or a mistake of fact
• Know the name and designation of the Investigating Officer (IO) assigned to your FIR, the date of assignment, and details of any change of IO since registration
• Confirm whether a charge sheet under Section 173 CrPC / Section 193 BNSS has been filed — including the court, date of filing, and case number — or obtain the reason for delay beyond the statutory period
• Get a copy of the Action Taken Report (ATR) prepared by the officer in charge in response to your complaint
• Track the outcome of a departmental inquiry or disciplinary proceeding against a named Rajasthan Police officer — the authority, dates, and final order
• Establish on record that your complaint was received at the police station, in cases where the station denies receiving it at all
• Access aggregated statistical data — such as the number of FIRs registered under a specific section in a given district during a financial year — which is administrative in nature and is not sheltered by any exemption

Critical limitation: Section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act protects information whose disclosure would impede investigation, detection, or prosecution of offenders. For active investigations, this covers the detailed case diary, witness identities and statements, evidence collected, the identities of suspects not yet charge-sheeted, and operational investigation methods. RTI cannot access this operational detail. It can access administrative and procedural facts — FIR text, GDE entry, IO assignment, charge sheet filing status, and case closure reason — which are distinct from investigation strategy. Include in every RTI application to a police authority an explicit note that you do not seek information that would impede investigation (as in the sample draft above). This substantially reduces the risk of a sweeping blanket refusal.

Where to File: Choosing the Correct Authority

Rajasthan Police is organised under the Home Department, Government of Rajasthan and is headed by the Director General of Police (DGP) at the State Police Headquarters in Jaipur. The state is divided into ranges, zones, and districts. Each district is headed by a Superintendent of Police (SP). Each district is further divided into sub-divisions headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and, at the ground level, individual Police Stations each headed by a Station House Officer (SHO). Rajasthan also has the Rajasthan Police Act 2007, which governs the internal functioning of the force alongside CrPC procedures.

For FIR and complaint-related RTI applications, you must file with the SPIO at the office that holds the records you need:

• If you know which police station your FIR was registered at: file with the SPIO at that police station (the SHO typically acts as SPIO or designates an officer), or with the SPIO at the Office of the Superintendent of Police of that district.
• If you filed a complaint but are unsure whether an FIR was registered: file with the SPIO at the police station where you submitted the complaint.
• If you need information at the district level — such as action by the SP on a complaint to that office — file with the SPIO at the SP's office for that district.
• If you are unsure which unit holds the records: file with the SPIO at the Home Department, Government of Rajasthan, Secretariat, Jaipur. Under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, that SPIO must transfer your application to the correct unit within five days, inform you of the transfer, and the 30-day response clock continues from the date of receipt at the correct office.

Appeal jurisdiction: Rajasthan Police is a state government authority. First Appeals under Section 19(1) go to the First Appellate Authority (FAA) within the Rajasthan Police establishment — typically the officer senior to the SPIO, such as the SP or Additional SP of the district. Second Appeals under Section 19(3) go to the Rajasthan State Information Commission (RSIC) in Jaipur, not the Central Information Commission (CIC). The CIC has no jurisdiction over state government bodies.

How to File: Step by Step

Step 1: Gather Your Key Details

Before drafting your application, compile the following:

• The name and full address of the police station where you filed the complaint or where the FIR was registered
• The FIR number and year, if one was issued, along with the date of registration
• If no FIR was registered, the date you submitted your written complaint, and any written acknowledgement, GDE number, or receipt you received from the station at the time
• The nature of the matter — described briefly and factually, without accusations or emotional language

Step 2: Draft Your RTI Application

Use the sample draft above as the basis. Frame each question around procedural facts and administrative status. Do not ask for the contents of the case diary, witness identities, evidence gathered, or investigation strategy — these will be refused under Section 8(1)(h). Do ask for: the FIR copy, GDE entry, reason for non-registration, IO name and designation, charge sheet filing status, and case closure reason.

Include the following note in every RTI application to a police authority:

"I do not seek any information that would impede the process of investigation, detection, or prosecution of offenders under Section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. I seek only the procedural status, administrative records, and factual information of the nature described above."

Step 3: File Online or by Post

The Rajasthan government operates a central RTI portal at rti.rajasthan.gov.in. You can file RTI applications online for Rajasthan Police and all other state departments through this portal and pay the ₹10 fee electronically. This is the fastest method and provides a digital record of receipt.

For physical filing, send your application by registered post or speed post to the SPIO at the concerned police station or district SP office, enclosing a crossed Indian Postal Order (IPO) for ₹10 drawn in favour of the correct payee as specified by the Rajasthan Right to Information Rules (verify the exact payee designation before issuing the IPO). BPL cardholders are exempt from the application fee — attach a self-attested copy of your BPL card. Retain the postal receipt and a full photocopy of your application. The 30-day response clock begins from the date of receipt at the SPIO's office, so preserve your postal delivery acknowledgement as evidence of the receipt date.

Step 4: First Appeal under Section 19(1)

If the SPIO does not respond within 30 days of receipt (or 48 hours if the matter concerns life or liberty), or if the response is incomplete, evasive, or constitutes an unjustified refusal, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) in the Rajasthan Police hierarchy — typically the SP or Additional SP of the district, or the designated FAA at the district police office. The First Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of the SPIO's decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. There is no fee. Attach your original RTI application, proof of delivery, and the SPIO's response if any. The FAA must decide within 30 days (extendable to 45 days with written reasons).

Step 5: Second Appeal under Section 19(3)

If the FAA also fails to respond satisfactorily, file a Second Appeal with the Rajasthan State Information Commission (RSIC) under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act, within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the FAA's response period. The RSIC can condone delay on sufficient cause shown. It can direct disclosure of the withheld information, impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on the defaulting SPIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act, and recommend departmental disciplinary action against the officer responsible. The RSIC's contact details and online Second Appeal filing facility are available on the Rajasthan RTI portal at rti.rajasthan.gov.in.

What Specific Information to Request

FIR Copy and Registration Details

The single most common reason citizens approach Rajasthan Police with RTI is to obtain a copy of their FIR. Specific questions to include:

1. A certified copy of FIR No. XXX/YEAR registered at Police Station Name, District, Rajasthan, including all section(s) of law under which it was registered, the name of the complainant as recorded in the FIR, and the date and time of registration.
2. The date on which a copy of the FIR was forwarded to the Judicial Magistrate having jurisdiction, as required under Section 157 CrPC (Section 193 BNSS).
3. Whether any modification to the FIR — addition or deletion of penal sections — was made after initial registration; if yes, the date of modification, the section(s) added or deleted, and the authority under whose direction it was done.

Complaint Entered in General Diary but No FIR Registered

1. Whether the written complaint submitted on DD/MM/YYYY to Police Station Name was received and entered in the General Diary (GD/GDE) — if yes, the GDE number and date.
2. The specific reason recorded by the SHO / officer in charge for not registering an FIR on the basis of the above complaint, and the name and designation of the officer who made that decision.
3. Whether a preliminary inquiry was conducted under the proviso to Section 154 CrPC before deciding not to register an FIR — if yes, the date the inquiry was completed and the conclusion recorded.
4. A copy of the Action Taken Report (ATR) prepared on the complaint.

Investigation Status and Assigned Officer

1. The current broad stage of investigation in FIR No. XXX/YEAR — whether ongoing, charge sheet filed, or case closed.
2. If the case has been closed: the nature of the final report (untraced / false case / mistake of fact / civil in nature), the date of submission to the competent magistrate, and the name and designation of the officer who submitted it.
3. The name and designation of the IO currently assigned to FIR No. XXX/YEAR and the date of assignment. If the IO has changed since registration, the name, designation, and dates of each officer who has handled the investigation and the reason for each change.

Charge Sheet and Court Proceedings

1. Whether a charge sheet (final report under Section 173 CrPC / Section 193 BNSS) has been filed in respect of FIR No. XXX/YEAR — if yes, the date of filing, the name and location of the court, and the case number assigned by the court.
2. If the charge sheet has not been filed within the statutory period (60 days where the accused is in custody; 90 days in other cases), the specific reason for the delay and the current expected timeline.

Police Accountability Records

RTI is also an effective tool for tracking accountability within the Rajasthan Police:

1. Whether a departmental inquiry or disciplinary proceeding was initiated against Name and Designation, Police Station, District in connection with brief description of the alleged misconduct.
2. The authority before whom the inquiry was conducted, the date it was initiated, and the date it was concluded.
3. The final order passed in the inquiry and the punishment, if any, awarded.
4. Aggregated statistical data — such as the number of FIRs registered under a specific section in a named district during a specific financial year — which is administrative data not protected by Section 8(1)(h).

Case Diary Limits and FIR Rights Explained

A frequent source of confusion is where the boundary lies between the FIR (which must be disclosed) and the case diary (which can be withheld during an active investigation). Here is the practical distinction:

The FIR is the document prepared by the police on receipt of information about a cognisable offence. It contains the name of the informant, the date and time of registration, the nature of the offence, and the sections of law invoked. The FIR is forwarded to the Judicial Magistrate and becomes part of the judicial record from day one. It is a public document and is not protected by Section 8(1)(h) — the complainant has an absolute right to a copy.

The case diary, maintained under Section 172 CrPC, is the investigating officer's running log of daily investigation activity: leads followed, witnesses interviewed, evidence gathered, suspects identified, and the reasoning behind each investigative step. This document reflects active investigation strategy. The Supreme Court of India and High Courts have consistently upheld the Section 8(1)(h) exemption for the case diary during an ongoing investigation, because its disclosure could compromise witnesses, alert suspects, and impede prosecution. A court, however, can order its production under the second proviso to Section 172 CrPC in aid of a trial.

Practical guidance: You cannot obtain the detailed case diary via RTI while an investigation is active. You can obtain the FIR copy, the name and designation of the IO, the broad procedural stage of the investigation, the reason for case closure if closed, and the charge sheet filing date and court if filed. Frame your questions around these facts. If the SPIO attempts to use Section 8(1)(h) to withhold the FIR copy itself, or the IO's name and designation, or the basic stage of the investigation, that refusal is an overreach and should be challenged at the First Appeal stage.

The Appeal Process at a Glance

The RSIC is the final appellate authority for all state government public authorities in Rajasthan. Its orders are binding on Rajasthan Police. Penalties under Section 20 of the RTI Act — ₹250 per day of default, up to ₹25,000 per application — can be imposed on the personally responsible SPIO. The RSIC can also recommend departmental disciplinary action. Citizens can access the RSIC complaint filing process through the Rajasthan RTI portal at rti.rajasthan.gov.in.