FIR or court complaint, what to write, the receipt you must collect, limitation clocks, and what happens after registration — a victim-side walkthrough of starting a criminal case.
Criminal justice starts with a complaint that compels action. Whether the wrong is assault, fraud, theft or threats, the way the first report is drafted — its precision, annexures and legal sections — determines whether investigation moves swiftly or stalls at the station desk.
FIR vs. direct court complaint
The standard route is the First Information Report (जाहेरी) at the police station with jurisdiction over the place of offence. Police must register it and issue a receipt bearing the registration number — that number is your proof and reference for everything downstream. Certain matters allow direct court complaints (for example, domestic-violence victims may complain directly to the court), and special statutes set their own channels: cyber complaints go to the Cyber Bureau within 35 days, cheque-bounce follows the Banking Offence Act certification cycle.
Drafting a complaint that moves
State what happened, where and when, who was involved, and what evidence you hold — messages, photos, medical reports, transaction records, witness names. Attach copies, keep originals. Name the legal provisions if advised, but never force-fit sections; a clean factual account lets the investigating officer and government attorney frame charges correctly. Put it in writing even where oral reporting is accepted — a stamped written copy is far harder to ignore than a verbal report.
If police hesitate or refuse
An outright refusal to register is unlawful. Escalate in writing to senior officers, keep every stamped copy, and note names, dates and badge numbers. Courts can ultimately order registration and investigation. Persistence with a paper trail beats confrontation every time.
Limitation clocks you must respect
Criminal complaints carry limitation periods that vary by offence — cheque-bounce requires complaint within a year of certification, cyber offences within 35 days of knowledge, and many civil-criminal overlaps have their own bars. File early as a rule: delay degrades evidence and can extinguish the remedy entirely.
What happens after registration
Police investigate — recording statements, seizing exhibits, obtaining medical and forensic reports. Anyone arrested must be produced within 24 hours. The file then goes to the government attorney (सरकारी वकिल), who decides whether prosecution proceeds and files the charge sheet before the competent court, ordinarily the District Court. As complainant or victim, you hold rights throughout: copies of documents, notice of bail hearings and trial dates, participation through victim-counsel, and compensation claims under the Crime Victim Protection Act, 2075.
Protecting yourself as complainant
Preserve originals before reporting — metadata in messages and photos is evidence. Avoid public accusations that could invite counter-complaints of defamation. And consider parallel civil recovery where money is involved: criminal conviction punishes, but dedicated civil or compromise proceedings recover.
Key takeaways
- Always collect the FIR registration receipt with its number
- Written, annexed complaints move; verbal reports stall
- Refusal to register is unlawful and challengeable up to the court
- Limitation varies (35 days cyber, 1 year cheque) — file early
General information for public awareness — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an advocate →
Frequently asked questions
Which police station should I go to?
The station with territorial jurisdiction over where the offence occurred. For cyber offences, the Cyber Bureau (Bhotahiti, Kathmandu, or online) is the designated channel.
Do I need a lawyer to file an FIR?
Not legally — but counsel drafts section-precise complaints, preserves evidence correctly, and prevents limitation or framing errors that weaken cases at birth.
What happens after the charge sheet is filed?
The court frames charges, hears bail, tries the case with prosecution and defence evidence, and pronounces judgment with sentence and compensation — a process in which victims participate through counsel.
References
- National Criminal Procedure (Code) Act, 2074, Ch. 2 — investigation and FIR provisions
- Electronic Transactions Act, 2063, Sec. 74 — 35-day cyber complaint window
- Crime Victim Protection Act, 2075 — victim participation and compensation
Verify current wording and commencement at the Nepal Law Commission (lawcommission.gov.np) before relying on any provision. Reviewed by a Nepal-qualified advocate in November 2026.