In legal review
FIR and Zero FIR
Reporting a cognizable offence, electronic information and jurisdiction.
Criminal procedure · India
Know the process. Preserve your rights.
A source-led guide to FIRs, arrest, appearance notices, bail, custody and legal aid under India's current criminal laws. High-risk guidance stays behind qualified legal review.
Understand your document first
A police complaint, FIR, Zero FIR, notice to appear, arrest memorandum and remand order are different records. The document, alleged offence, date, State or Union Territory and any special law decide which procedure applies.
Coverage map
The complete criminal-procedure cluster
Review status is shown with text and an icon, not colour alone. Planned pages are not treated as legal guidance.
In legal review
Police refusal to register FIR
The statutory escalation path and the records to preserve.
In legal review
Arrest rights
Grounds of arrest, arrest memorandum, family information and counsel.
In legal review
Notice of appearance
How an appearance notice differs from arrest and why compliance records matter.
In legal review
Bail and anticipatory bail
Bailable, regular and pre-arrest routes under the current procedure.
In legal review
Default bail and undertrial release
Statutory investigation periods and detention-limit safeguards.
Planned
Remand and custody
Magistrate oversight, police custody and judicial custody.
Planned
Chargesheet and trial stages
A plain-language map from investigation to judgment.
Planned
Old-to-new law mapping
CrPC, IPC and Evidence Act references mapped to BNSS, BNS and BSA.
Planned
Victim compensation and legal aid
Official support routes and the documents applicants may need.
Primary references
Go to the official source
Nyaya Portal explainers supplement official material. They do not replace the current Act, notification, court order or advice based on the facts.
India Code
Official consolidated text of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Read the BNSS(opens official site)Ministry of Home Affairs
Acts, commencement material and official resources for the new criminal laws.
Open MHA resources(opens official site)NALSA
Official legal-aid information, eligibility guidance and access routes.
Check legal-aid guidance(opens official site)Published after review
Criminal-procedure guides
verified
Police questioning and notice of appearance: your rights
Understand what to record when police call you for questioning and how a notice differs from an arrest.
Read reviewed guideverified
Crime victim compensation and legal support
Understand the first steps for seeking compensation and support after a serious crime.
Read reviewed guideverified
Search, seizure and personal search: a citizen checklist
Know what to note when police search a place, seize property or conduct a personal search.
Read reviewed guideeditor reviewed
FIR and Zero FIR under BNSS: what the law says and what to record
A source-backed draft guide to reporting a cognizable offence, filing irrespective of territorial jurisdiction, obtaining a free copy, and escalating a refusal.
Read reviewed guideeditor reviewed
Arrest, notice of appearance and custody under BNSS: a rights checklist
A review draft explaining the difference between an appearance notice and arrest, the arrest record, information rights, access to an advocate, and Magistrate oversight.
Read reviewed guideeditor reviewed
Bail under BNSS: bailable, regular, anticipatory, default and undertrial release
A source-backed review draft mapping the main BNSS bail routes, the documents a lawyer needs, statutory time thresholds, and the limits of general online guidance.
Read reviewed guide