How to File Police Complaint Online in Kolkata — Complete Guide 2026 | Advocate Panchanand Shaw

Online Police Complaint Mechanisms in Kolkata

The West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police have established online platforms for citizens to file complaints without physically visiting a police station. The key platforms are: (1) Kolkata Police website (kolkatapolice.gov.in) for complaints within Kolkata Police jurisdiction, (2) West Bengal Police Citizen Portal (wbpolice.gov.in) for areas outside Kolkata but within West Bengal, (3) National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) for cybercrime complaints, (4) LOST Report for reporting lost/stolen articles through the Kolkata Police app.

Under the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — now the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — every police officer is duty-bound to register an FIR when a cognizable offence is reported. The online complaint system facilitates this process, especially for non-emergency complaints and for complainants who cannot immediately visit a police station.

Types of Complaints You Can File Online

• Cognizable Offences: Serious crimes where police can arrest without a warrant — theft, robbery, assault, criminal intimidation, chain snatching, burglary, rioting, dowry harassment, domestic violence (cognizable in certain sections).
• Non-Cognizable Offences: Less serious matters where police need a magistrate's order to investigate — simple hurt, defamation, cheating (certain sections), mischief.
• Cyber Crimes: Online fraud, phishing, identity theft, social media harassment, hacking, email spoofing, cyber stalking — filed through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
• Missing Persons: Report a missing person, especially children, elderly, or persons with mental health conditions. Time-sensitive — file immediately.
• Lost Property: Report lost articles (documents, wallets, phones) through the LOST report on Kolkata Police portal — especially useful for lost documents like Aadhaar, PAN, passport.
• Traffic Violations: Report traffic violations, reckless driving, illegal parking through the Kolkata Traffic Police section or citizen reporting mechanisms.

How to File an Online Police Complaint in Kolkata

1. Visit kolkatapolice.gov.in or wbpolice.gov.in depending on the jurisdiction of the incident.
2. Navigate to 'Citizen Services' → 'Online Complaint Registration' or 'e-FIR/Lodge Complaint'.
3. Fill the complaint form with: your full name, address, mobile number, email ID, details of the incident (date, time, place, description), details of the accused (if known), and type of offence.
4. Attach supporting evidence: photographs, videos, screenshots, audio recordings, medical reports, and any other material supporting your complaint.
5. Upload your identity proof (Aadhaar, voter ID, or any government-issued photo ID) as the complainant.
6. Submit the complaint. You will receive a complaint acknowledgment number via SMS and email.
7. The complaint is reviewed by the Duty Officer at the concerned police station or the central complaint monitoring cell.
8. For cognizable offences, the police SHOULD register an FIR based on the online complaint, assign a case number, and initiate investigation.
9. For non-cognizable offences, the police will record the complaint in the General Diary (GD) and provide a GD entry number.
10. You can track the status of your complaint online using the acknowledgment number.

What to Do If Police Refuse to Register FIR

If the police refuse to register an FIR despite a cognizable offence being reported, you have several legal remedies:

1. Approach Senior Police Officers: Contact the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of the zone or the Commissioner of Police with a written complaint under Section 154(3) of the BNSS (earlier CrPC). The senior officer may direct registration of the FIR.
2. File a Private Complaint in Court: Approach the jurisdictional Magistrate under Section 223 of the BNSS (earlier Section 200 CrPC) and file a private complaint. The Magistrate can direct the police to register the FIR and investigate.
3. Complaint to the State Human Rights Commission: If the offence involves violation of human rights or police inaction, approach the West Bengal Human Rights Commission.
4. Writ Petition in High Court: In extreme cases of police inaction, a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution can be filed in the Calcutta High Court seeking direction for registration of FIR.
5. Online Grievance to Police HQ: Use the online grievance mechanism on the police portal to escalate your complaint.

Documents and Evidence to Support Your Complaint

A well-documented complaint is more likely to be taken seriously. Attach: (1) A detailed written narrative of the incident, (2) Copies of any relevant documents (cheques, contracts, messages), (3) Photographs or videos of the incident/damage, (4) Medical reports and injury certificates (for assault cases), (5) List of witnesses with their contact details, (6) Call detail records or message screenshots. If filing a complaint about a lost document, include the document number and a copy if available.