97. Process for information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence.—
Whenever information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence is given to an officer-in-charge of a police station the report will immediately be taken down in triplicate in the check receipt book for reports of cognizable offences (Police Form No. 341). This step will on no account be delayed to allow time for the true facts to be ascertained by a preliminary investigation. Even if it appears untrue, the report must be recorded at once. If they report is made orally, the exact words of the person who makes it, including his answers to any questions put to him should be taken down and read over to him; he must sign each of the three parts, or if he cannot write, he must make his mark or thumb-impression. If a written report is received an exact copy must be made, but the signature or mark of the messenger need not be taken. In all cases the officer-in-charge of the station must sign each of the three parts and have the seal of the station stamped on each. The triplicate copy will remain in the book; the duplicate copy will be given to the person who makes the oral or brings the written report; the original will be sent forthwith through the Superintendent of Police to the Magistrate having jurisdiction with the original written report (if any) attached.
The practice of delaying first information reports until they can be sent to headquarters attached to special or general diaries is contrary to the provisions of Criminal Procedure Code and is prohibited.
If there is an Assistant or Deputy Superintendent incharge of the subdivision, and stationed at a place other than th6 headquarters of the district/the original should be sent through him to the Magistrate.
98. Entries of crimes in registers and diaries should be clear.—
It is essential that all reports and entries in registers and diaries should be written clearly and legibly. These documents may have to be proved later in courts of law, and much delay and difficulty may be caused if the original writing is not clear and indisputable.
99. Substance of F.I.R. in G.D.—
As soon as the report has been written-in the first information book, the substance of the report must be briefly recorded in the general diary. The entries in the first information report and the general diary must be made at once, even, if the report is received at night. The village crime notebook, crime register and the register of property should be written up within 24 hours if the report entails the making of entries in these registers.
100. Process for Oral Information of Cognizable offence to station officer.—
If an officer-in-charge of a station receives an oral report of a cognizable offence when he is away from the station house, and wishes to begin the investigation at once and cannot dispense with the attendance of the person who made the report, he should take the report down in writing and, after having it signed or marked by the person who made it, should send it to the police station to be treated as a written report.
101. Special Report cases.—
Whenever the occurrence of an offence of any of the following kinds is reported—
(1) dacoity,
(2) robbery except unimportant cases such as snatching ear-rings,
(3) torture by police,
(4) escape from police custody,
(5) forging of currency notes,
(6) manufacture of counterfeit coin,
(7) serious defalcations of public money including theft of notes or hundis from letters,
(8) important cases of murder, rioting, burglary and theft, breaches of the peace between different classes, communities or political groups and other cases of special interest.
copies of the report will be sent immediately in red envelopes to the Superintendent, the District Magistrate, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and the circle inspector by post or hand whichever may be the quicker method of conveyance. The telephone or telegraph when available, and the department telegraphic code, copies of which have been supplied to all police stations near telegraph offices should also be used to give the Superintendent early news of such offences.
SHORT NOTES
It is important to send the Special Report (S.R.) promptly to the concerning officers, yet they visit the place as soon as possible and give directions to investigator to perform investigation in proper direction.
101-A. Copy of Special Reports to DM and SP.—
Copies of reports shall be sent to District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police in all important cases or categories of cases in which they may require special reports to be sent.
102. Process for report of a non-cognizable offence.—
When a report is made of a non-cognizable offence, the important portion of the report should be recorded in the check receipt book for reports of non-cognizable offence (Police Form No. 347). The informant should be required to sign or affix his mark to ?ach of the two copies. The duplicate copy should be given to him, the original remaining in the book. The substance of the report should be entered in the general diary, and, if the report is in writing, the proper containing should be attached to the diary. The informant should also be referred to the Magistrate, as required by Section 155 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
103. Responsibility of S.O. for the correct recording of all reports of crime.—
The responsibility imposed on the officer-in-charge of police station by Sections 154 and 155(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) for the correct recording of all reports of crime, whether cognizable or non- cognizable, will be enforced, and he must countersign all reports of either kind recorded.