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Police Complaint With No Action? Use RTI to Get the Action-Taken Report on Record

Police

Quick answer

If you filed a written complaint at a police station and nothing visible has happened, an RTI for the action-taken report (ATR) forces the police to state on record what was done, by whom, and why no further action was taken. That record is also the foundation for escalating to the SP/Commissioner or a magistrate.

Why this usually gets stuck

Complaints acknowledged but never converted to an FIR or NC
Enquiries "in progress" indefinitely with no officer accountable
Complaints transferred between stations or to special units without intimation
Closure without informing the complainant

What an RTI gets you, on record

The action-taken report on your complaint, on record
The officer to whom it is assigned and the current stage
Whether it was converted to an FIR/NC, transferred, or closed - with recorded reasons
Copies of correspondence made on your complaint

Where to file it

Address the RTI to the PIO of the district police / Police Commissionerate the station reports to, naming the station and complaint inside the application - see our police-station RTI guide for how the routing works. File via your state RTI portal or by post.

Sample RTI questions (edit the bracketed details)

Provide the action-taken report on my written complaint dated [date] (acknowledgement/DD number [number]) filed at [station name], including its present status and the officer to whom it is assigned.

State whether the said complaint was registered as an FIR or NC; if not, provide the reasons recorded for not registering it.

State whether the complaint was transferred to any other station/unit; if so, provide the date, reference and current status.

Provide copies of the correspondence and enquiry notes made on the said complaint, to the extent permissible under the RTI Act.

Keep questions factual and specific to your own matter. Ask for records, status, dates, reasons and officer details - not opinions. Do not include anyone else's personal information.

If there is no reply in 30 days

The PIO is ordinarily required to respond within 30 days under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act. If there is no proper response, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority of the same public authority; if that fails, a Second Appeal lies with the Information Commission. See the Appeal Generator.

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Frequently asked questions

Can police deny this under "investigation"?

Section 8(1)(h) protects material that would impede an ongoing investigation - but the fact of action taken on your own complaint, its status and assignment are ordinarily obtainable. A blanket refusal is appealable.

RTI or a reminder complaint first?

A written reminder is fine, but the RTI creates a legal clock and a paper trail - which is what changes behaviour.

What if there is no reply?

The PIO is ordinarily required to respond within 30 days under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act. If there is no proper response, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority of the same public authority (no fee for a first appeal in most states); if that also fails, a Second Appeal lies with the Information Commission. FileMyRTI helps with the First Appeal route.

Related guides

FileMyRTI is not a government website. This guide explains how the RTI Act can be used when an official process stalls; it is general information, not legal advice. Last updated: June 2026.