Karnataka High Court quashes FIR against drone development company, cautions police against not giving FIRs to accused

The Karnataka High Court has cautioned that police officers who fail to give a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) to accused and other persons concerned in a criminal case would be amenable for departmental inquiry for dereliction of duty.

“The law declared by the apex court unequivocally mandates that an accused is entitled to obtain a copy of the FIR without undue delay. Mere assertion that the FIR is uploaded online cannot be a substitute for compliance with the obligation. The denial of essential particulars concerning the FIR renders the rights to access illusory and undermines the very purpose of transparency envisaged by the court,” the court observed.