Closure Report RTI — when police file 'Final Report Negative' (2026)

When the police conclude that the complaint is false (B-summary / C-summary) or untraced (A-summary), they file a closure report under §173(2) CrPC. The Magistrate must issue notice to the complainant before accepting the report (Bhagwant Singh v. Commissioner of Police, 1985 Supreme Court). RTI is the route to obtain the closure-report copy + notice details.

• RTI Act, 2005 §6, §7(1), §8(1)(h) ceases on filing of closure report.
• CrPC §173(2) & §173(8) — final report and further investigation.
• Bhagwant Singh v. Commissioner of Police (SC, 1985) — Magistrate must issue notice to complainant before accepting closure.
• Sakiri Vasu v. State of UP (SC, 2008) — complainant has remedy under §156(3) and against closure.

To:
The Public Information Officer (PIO),
[Office name + address].

Subject: RTI under §6 — Closure report in FIR No. [NO]/[YEAR], PS [NAME]

Sir/Madam,

Under the RTI Act, 2005, kindly provide:

1. Certified copy of the closure report (Final Report Negative / B-summary /
   C-summary as applicable) filed under §173(2) CrPC in FIR No. [NO] of [DATE].
2. Date of filing at the Magistrate Court [NAME].
3. Reasons recorded by the Investigating Officer for closure.
4. List of witnesses examined under §161 CrPC during investigation.
5. Whether forensic / FSL reports were obtained, and if yes, their summaries.
6. Status of issue of notice to the undersigned (complainant) under
   Bhagwant Singh v. Commissioner of Police (SC, 1985).
7. Court Case Number assigned and next date of hearing.

I am the original complainant in the said FIR. Identity proof enclosed.
§8(1)(h) is not applicable post-closure.

Rs. 10 IPO enclosed.

Yours faithfully,
[Name]
[Address + phone + email]
[Date]

• Day 31 (no reply) — First Appeal to the SP-rank FAA.
• Day 76 — Second Appeal to the SIC.
• Parallel — file Protest Petition (Naraz Petition) before the Magistrate under §200 CrPC opposing closure. Use the closure-report copy as evidence.
• Parallel — Approach the SP / DCP / SSP under §36 CrPC + State Police Complaints Authority for re-investigation under §173(8).

• Bhagwant Singh v. Commissioner of Police (SC, 1985) — Magistrate must issue notice to complainant before accepting closure. Foundational for protest petition right.
• Sakiri Vasu v. State of UP (SC, 2008) — Complainant's remedy includes §156(3), §200 protest petition, and writ jurisdiction against arbitrary closure.
• Vinubhai Haribhai Malaviya v. State of Gujarat (SC, 2019) — Magistrate can order further investigation under §173(8) even after submission of closure report.
• Bhagat Singh v. CIC (Delhi HC, 2007) — §8(1)(h) does not protect a closed file — closure is itself the end of investigation.

• Confusing closure with discharge — closure is by police, discharge is by Magistrate after committal.
• Missing the protest-petition window (typically 30-60 days from notice).
• Filing RTI to wrong PS — must be the PS that registered FIR.
• Asking for case-diary — exempt; ask for closure report + §161 statements summary.

A = untraced; B = false; C = mistake of fact / non-cognisable. Each requires Magistrate notice to complainant.

Yes — under §173(8) CrPC. The Magistrate or SP can order it. Closure report copy via RTI is the foundation.

No statutory limit, but file as early as possible — practically within 60 days of notice. Use cause-of-action: receipt of closure report.

• FIR copy RTI
• Charge-sheet copy RTI
• FIR not registered — RTI route
• Investigation RTI — PIO playbook
• File RTI online — 12 steps
• RTI — 25 questions answered

• RTI Act, 2005 — full text.
• Citation chain in body.
• Citizen Charter of the relevant authority.
• Case-law database at /cases/search.

Last reviewed: 23 April 2026.