Police report
Also called: Charge-sheet, Final report, Report under Section 193 BNSS
The report that the officer in charge of a police station forwards to a Magistrate under Section 193(3) of the BNSS when an investigation is completed.
Explained
Section 2(1)(t) of the BNSS defines a police report as a report forwarded by a police officer to a Magistrate under sub-section (3) of Section 193. The earlier definition in Section 2(r) of the CrPC referred to Section 173(2). Only the report made on completion of investigation is a police report in this sense; the first information, the case diary and interim reports are not.
Section 193(3) requires the officer in charge of the police station to forward the report, including through electronic communication, to a Magistrate empowered to take cognizance on a police report. It must state the names of the parties, the nature of the information, the persons acquainted with the circumstances, whether any offence appears to have been committed and by whom, whether the accused has been arrested or released on bond, whether he has been forwarded in custody under Section 190, the medical report in the specified sexual offences, and the sequence of custody of any electronic device. The police must also inform the informant or victim of the progress of investigation within ninety days. In a case to which Section 190 applies, the documents relied on and the statements recorded under Section 180 go with the report, and the Magistrate supplies copies under Section 230.
A Magistrate may take cognizance upon a police report under Section 210(1)(b). A complaint under Section 2(1)(h) does not include a police report, but its Explanation treats a report that discloses, after investigation, a non-cognizable offence as a complaint, with the officer as complainant. Section 193(9) permits further investigation and a further report; during trial it needs the permission of the Court trying the case and must be completed within ninety days, extendable with permission.
The power to file a police report is also treated as the mark of a police officer. In Tofan Singh v. State of Tamil Nadu (2020) the majority held that NDPS officers who investigate and must forward a police report are police officers, so confessions made to them are barred. Examiners test the sub-section cited in the definition, the deemed complaint rule and the limits on further investigation.
What the law says
(t) “police report” means a report forwarded by a police officer to a Magistrate under sub-section (3) of section 193;
Section 2(1)(t) defines police report; 2(1)(h) excludes it from complaint
Earlier law: CRPC 2. Definitions.
(3) (i) As soon as the investigation is completed, the officer in charge of the police station shall forward, including through electronic communication to a Magistrate empowered to take cognizance of the offence on a police report, a report in the form as the State Government may, by rules provide, stating—
(a) the names of the parties;
(b) the nature of the information;
Contents, forwarding and further investigation of the final report
Earlier law: CRPC 173. Report of police officer on completion of investigation.
(b) upon a police report (submitted in any mode including electronic mode) of such facts;
(c) upon information received from any person other than a police officer, or upon his own knowledge, that such offence has been committed.
(2) The Chief Judicial Magistrate may empower any Magistrate of the second class to take cognizance under sub-section (1) of such offences as are within his competence to inquire into or try.
Cognizance by a Magistrate upon a police report
Earlier law: CRPC 190. Cognizance of offences by Magistrates.
In any case where the proceeding has been instituted on a police report, the Magistrate shall without delay, and in no case beyond fourteen days from the date of production or appearance of the accused, furnish to the accused and the victim (if represented by an advocate) free of cost, a copy of each of the following:—
(i) the police report;
(ii) the first information report recorded under section 173;
Supply of the police report and documents to the accused
Earlier law: CRPC 207. Supply to the accused of copy of police report and other documents.
Earlier law: Section 2, CrPC
For the exam
- Defined in Section 2(1)(t) BNSS: report under Section 193(3); earlier Section 2(r) and 173(2) CrPC.
- Report may be forwarded through electronic communication.
- Informant or victim must be told the progress of investigation within ninety days.
- Report disclosing a non-cognizable offence is deemed a complaint (Explanation to Section 2(1)(h)).
- Further investigation during trial needs the trial Court's permission and ninety days to finish.
333 questions in the Law Maker question bank use this term. Practise Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita questions
Judgments
Related terms
- InvestigationAll proceedings under the BNSS for the collection of evidence by a police officer, or by a person other than a Magistrate authorised by a Magistrate.
- ComplaintUnder Section 2(1)(h) of the BNSS, an oral or written allegation to a Magistrate, made so that he acts under the Sanhita, that some person, known or unknown, has committed an offence. A police report is excluded.
- Cognizable offenceAn offence for which a police officer may arrest without warrant, in accordance with the First Schedule to the BNSS or any other law in force.
- Non-cognizable offenceAn offence for which a police officer has no authority to arrest without warrant. A case involving such an offence is a non-cognizable case.
- ChargeThe formal written statement of the offence an accused is to be tried for, with particulars of time, place, person and manner, so that he knows exactly what case he must meet.
Further reading
Checked 6 November 2026. Statutory text is quoted from the Bare Acts library, taken from India Code. See the full glossary.