In short. In Delhi, an FIR is registered at the police station with jurisdiction and supervised by the district DCP. The case is tried in the district court complex covering that police station, such as Tis Hazari, Saket or Karkardooma. Bail goes first to the magistrate or Sessions Court there; quashing petitions under BNSS s.528 and further bail applications go to the Delhi High Court.
The law is the same across India, but practice is local. Which court complex hears your case, how the IO's reply reaches the court, how the Delhi High Court lists a quashing petition, and what the Crime Against Women cell does before an FIR in a matrimonial complaint: these are Delhi details, and they decide how fast things move. For the general stages of a criminal case under the BNSS, see our criminal law practice page.
We work from offices in Dwarka and Vaishali and appear across the Delhi district courts and in the Delhi High Court. Advocate B.K. Singh argues the hearings; Advocate Sadhna Singh keeps track of dates, papers and the family's questions between them.
- Police
- Delhi Police, under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs
- Trial courts
- Seven district court complexes
- Special courts
- Rouse Avenue for CBI, ACB and other designated cases
- Bail and quashing
- Delhi High Court, BNSS s.483 and s.528
- Jails
- Tihar, Rohini and Mandoli
- Police supervision
- SHO, then ACP, then DCP of the district
How does a criminal case move through the Delhi system?
A case starts at a police station, is tried in the district court complex that covers that police station, and reaches the Delhi High Court if anyone challenges an order or seeks bail or quashing beyond the trial court. Cases investigated by the CBI or Delhi's Anti-Corruption Branch go to special courts, mostly at Rouse Avenue. Very serious or specialised offences, such as NDPS and POCSO cases, go to designated special courts inside the district complexes.
Delhi Police is a single force for the whole of the National Capital Territory, reporting to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. That matters in practice: there is one Commissioner, a common set of standing orders, and specialised units that can take over cases from any district. A cheating FIR registered in Dwarka can end up with the Economic Offences Wing, and a cyber fraud reported in Rohini can be handled by the Special Cell.
Delhi's district court complexes and the areas they cover
Broadly, each complex hears cases from the police stations in its judicial districts. The FIR tells you the police station, and the police station tells you the court.
| Court complex | Districts broadly covered | What else sits there |
|---|---|---|
| Tis Hazari | Central and West Delhi | The oldest complex; large criminal and civil workload |
| Patiala House | New Delhi district | Some special courts, including NIA cases |
| Karkardooma | East, North-East and Shahdara | Family courts and special courts for the trans-Yamuna districts |
| Rohini | North and North-West Delhi | Serves much of outer north Delhi |
| Saket | South and South-East Delhi | Busy commercial and NI Act courts |
| Dwarka | South-West Delhi | Covers areas such as Dwarka, Palam and Najafgarh |
| Rouse Avenue | No geographical district | Special courts for CBI, Delhi ACB and PMLA cases, and cases involving MPs and MLAs |
Police districts and judicial districts do not line up perfectly, and an FIR transferred to a special unit may be tried somewhere you did not expect. The order sheet, or the case status on the e-Courts website using the CNR number, confirms which court has the case.
What happens at a Delhi police station?
Each police station is headed by an SHO, usually of Inspector rank, with a separate Inspector or officers handling investigation. When you give a written complaint, insist on a receipt or a diary entry (DD) number; it is the proof you will need if the complaint is not acted on. For some thefts, such as vehicle theft, Delhi Police lets you file an e-FIR online.
Above the SHO is the ACP of the sub-division and then the DCP of the district. If the SHO will not register an FIR, the next step is a written complaint to the DCP under BNSS s.173(4), and after that an application to the magistrate under s.175(3). Most DCP offices have a public grievance cell that takes complaints in person on working days. A complaint to the DCP that attaches the original complaint, the DD number and a short, dated history of your visits gets read; a long emotional letter often does not.
If you are the person accused, the police station is also where notices under BNSS s.35 are answered. Go with your advocate, carry copies of your documents and a covering letter, and leave with a receipt. The IO's case diary records what you said and what you handed over, and that diary is what the court reads at the bail hearing.
Delhi Police special units: EOW, Crime Branch, Special Cell and cyber police stations
Some cases are moved out of the local police station. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) handles large cheating, investment and property frauds, usually where the amount is substantial or there are many victims. The Crime Branch takes up organised and inter-state crime and cases the Commissioner transfers to it. The Special Cell deals with terrorism, organised gangs and serious cyber crime through its IFSO unit. Each district also has its own cyber police station for online fraud, sextortion and hacking complaints.
A case with a specialised unit tends to move differently. Investigations are more document-heavy, the IOs are more experienced, and the reply at a bail hearing is usually more detailed. EOW cases often involve months of document collection before any arrest, which leaves room to place your records before the IO early. Our pages on economic offences and cyber crime explain those cases in more detail.
Matrimonial complaints and the Crime Against Women cell
In Delhi, a wife's complaint of cruelty or dowry harassment against her husband and in-laws usually goes first to the Crime Against Women (CAW) cell of the district, not straight into an FIR. The cell calls both sides, attempts counselling, and records whether reconciliation or a settlement is possible. If it fails, the cell recommends registration of an FIR under BNS s.85 and s.86, and sometimes s.316 for the return of stridhan.
The CAW cell stage is more important than people think. What each side says and signs there often reappears in the FIR, the chargesheet and the divorce proceedings. A husband's family that ignores CAW cell notices looks uncooperative when it later seeks anticipatory bail. A wife who signs a vague settlement under pressure may find it used against her. Attend with an advocate, take a short written statement, and do not sign anything you have not read.
Following the Arnesh Kumar guidelines, arrest in these cases is now the exception, and the police usually issue notices. Where arrest is a real risk, anticipatory bail goes to the Sessions Court of the district, explained on our bail page. The divorce, maintenance and custody side is covered on our divorce lawyer in Delhi page.
If you are the complainant or victim in a Delhi case
A complainant in Delhi has more tools than most people use. You can ask the IO about the progress of investigation, which the BNSS requires to be shared with the informant within 90 days, and you can engage your own advocate to assist the Additional Public Prosecutor at trial. If the police file a closure report, the magistrate must give you notice, and you can file a protest petition with the material the police left out.
Victims of certain offences can claim compensation under the Delhi victim compensation scheme, administered by the Delhi State Legal Services Authority, sometimes as interim relief before the trial ends. If you face threats, apply to the court for protection under the witness protection scheme, which a district-level authority headed by the District and Sessions Judge decides. Keep every written communication with the police: when a case drifts, a dated record of your follow-up is what persuades a DCP or a court to step in.
Arrested in Delhi: what happens on the first day
The first 24 hours follow a fairly fixed routine in Delhi. Knowing it helps the family act quickly.
Arrest and medical examination
The police prepare an arrest memo and inform a family member. The arrested person is taken for a medical examination, usually at a government hospital, before production.
Production before the magistrate
Within 24 hours, the person is produced before the Judicial Magistrate of the area, or before the duty magistrate on holidays and after court hours. The police ask for police custody or judicial custody.
Remand and bail hearing
The defence opposes custody and can apply for bail at the same hearing. In offences up to seven years, the magistrate checks whether arrest complied with BNSS s.35 and the Arnesh Kumar guidelines. The court may call for the IO's reply the same day or fix a short date.
Bonds and surety verification
If bail is granted, the bail bond and surety bond are filed with identity and solvency papers. Delhi courts often direct the police to verify the surety's address before acceptance, which can take a day or two.
Release from jail
Once bonds are accepted, a release warrant is sent to the jail where the person is lodged, at Tihar, Rohini or Mandoli. Release usually happens the same evening or the next day, after the jail completes its formalities.
If bail is refused, the family should not wait for the next magistrate date. A bail application under BNSS s.483 can be filed in the Sessions Court of the same complex straight away.
Sessions Courts in Delhi: anticipatory bail and serious offences
Each district complex has a Principal District and Sessions Judge and several Additional Sessions Judges. Sessions cases, such as murder, rape, dacoity and attempt to murder, are committed to them by the magistrate. Anticipatory bail applications and regular bail applications in serious offences are filed before the Sessions Judge of the district, who marks them to a particular court.
On the first date, the court usually issues notice to the State through the Additional Public Prosecutor and calls for the IO's reply. In anticipatory bail matters, interim protection is often granted on that date if the facts support it, with a direction to join investigation. Many applications are decided within a few hearings. Sessions Courts also hear criminal revisions against magistrates' orders and appeals against convictions by magistrates.
Special courts sit within the same complexes: POCSO courts, NDPS courts, courts for crimes against women, and digital and NI Act courts for cheque cases. If your matter is under a special law, check that the application has been filed in the designated court, because filing in the regular Sessions Court only adds a transfer step.
Filing bail and criminal petitions in the Delhi High Court
Bail applications, quashing petitions, revisions, appeals and criminal writs are filed in the Delhi High Court through its e-filing system, with an advance copy served on the standing counsel for the State. Each type has its own label: BAIL APPLN. for bail, CRL.M.C. for petitions under BNSS s.528, CRL.REV.P. for revisions, CRL.A. for appeals and W.P.(CRL) for criminal writs. The registry checks defects before listing, and a defective filing loses days.
On the first hearing the court usually asks the State for a status report from the police. The report sets out the investigation and the police's objections, and the case is argued on the next date. Urgent matters, such as an imminent arrest or a person in custody on a defective remand, can be mentioned for early listing. Hearings are held in physical courtrooms, and video conferencing is available in many benches.
A Delhi High Court bail application should be self-contained: the FIR, the orders of the lower courts, the chargesheet if filed, and a short note on custody period and parity. Judges read the file before the hearing, and an application that answers the trial court's reasons for refusal gets a better hearing than one that repeats the arguments made below.
Quashing an FIR in the Delhi High Court under section 528
Quashing petitions under BNSS s.528 (old CrPC s.482) are among the commonest criminal matters in the Delhi High Court. The petition seeks an order ending the FIR, the chargesheet or the summoning order, either because no offence is made out on the face of the record or because the parties have settled.
Settlement quashing follows a set pattern in Delhi. The parties usually settle through the mediation centre at the district court or the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre, and record the terms in a written settlement. The petition annexes the settlement and an affidavit from the complainant, the complainant appears in court or by video link to confirm it, and the IO identifies the parties. In matrimonial cases this is often tied to a mutual consent divorce, with payment in instalments linked to each stage. The court sometimes imposes costs or community service on the accused as a condition of quashing.
Merits-based quashing is harder. The court will not weigh evidence or decide disputed facts. It works best where the complaint, read as it stands, shows a civil dispute or misses an ingredient of the offence, such as dishonest intention at the start in a cheating case. Advocate B.K. Singh's practice is to test the FIR against each ingredient of each section before advising a quashing petition, because a petition dismissed on merits makes the later trial harder.
A made-up example: a cheating FIR in Dwarka settled and quashed
Here's a made-up example. A shopkeeper in Dwarka takes ₹18 lakh from a supplier's agent as advance for goods that are never delivered, and the supplier files an FIR for cheating and criminal breach of trust. The shopkeeper says the goods were held up because the supplier stopped paying old invoices. The police issue a notice under s.35.
The shopkeeper joins investigation with a written reply and the ledger. Meanwhile, both sides are referred to mediation at the Dwarka court complex. They agree that ₹12 lakh will be paid in three instalments and that the remaining claim will be dropped. The settlement records that the FIR will be quashed.
A petition under s.528 is filed in the Delhi High Court with the settlement and the complainant's affidavit. The complainant confirms the settlement before the court, the IO identifies both parties, and the FIR is quashed on condition that the last instalment is paid on time. Had the shopkeeper filed for quashing on merits first, arguing that the dispute was civil, the petition might have failed and the settlement become harder to reach.
Where to file what in Delhi
A quick guide to the forum for the most common criminal applications in Delhi. Special laws can change the forum.
| What you need | Where it goes | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| FIR not registered | DCP of the district, then the magistrate under BNSS s.175(3) | Keep the DD number and proof of delivery |
| Regular bail, offence up to 7 years | Judicial Magistrate in the district complex | Often heard at first production |
| Regular bail, serious offence | Sessions Court of the district | Next stop after a magistrate's refusal |
| Anticipatory bail | Sessions Court of the district, then the Delhi High Court | Interim protection possible on the first date |
| Quashing an FIR or chargesheet | Delhi High Court, CRL.M.C. under s.528 | Settlement quashing needs the complainant in court |
| Order framing charge | Revision to the Sessions Court or the Delhi High Court | Usually within 90 days |
| Conviction by a magistrate | Appeal to the Sessions Court | 30 days |
| Conviction by a Sessions Court | Appeal to the Delhi High Court | 60 days |
| CBI or Delhi ACB case | Special court at Rouse Avenue | Bail and discharge argued there first |
Cheque bounce, corruption and agency cases in Delhi
Cheque bounce complaints under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act are filed where the payee's bank branch is, and Delhi has dedicated NI Act courts, including digital courts for some cheque cases, in the district complexes. These cases are high in volume and many settle at the mediation centres or in Lok Adalat. Our cheque bounce page covers the time limits.
Cases investigated by the CBI or Delhi's Anti-Corruption Branch are tried by special judges at Rouse Avenue, and ED's money laundering complaints are heard by designated PMLA courts. The approach to bail, discharge and trial in those courts differs from an ordinary police case. See our pages on CBI cases and anti-corruption cases.
What if the FIR is in Noida or Ghaziabad?
Noida and Ghaziabad are in Uttar Pradesh, so a different police force, different courts and a different High Court apply. Both districts now have police commissionerates. Cases from Gautam Buddh Nagar are tried at the district court complex at Surajpur, and Ghaziabad cases at the Ghaziabad district court. Bail beyond the Sessions Court, and quashing, go to the Allahabad High Court, not the Delhi High Court.
People who live in Delhi and work in Noida, or the other way round, sometimes face FIRs on both sides of the border. Each must be handled in its own court, and bail in one does not protect you in the other. Our Vaishali office is close to the Ghaziabad courts, and our offices page explains how we cover courts across Delhi NCR.
What to bring when your case is in a Delhi court
Bring what you have. If you do not have the FIR or the order sheet, we can usually get them from the police website or the e-Courts portal.
Case details
- FIR number, police station and year
- CNR number of the case, if it has reached court
- Latest order sheet and the next date
- Names of the IO and the court
Documents
- FIR copy and any notices under s.35
- Chargesheet, if filed
- Bail orders, granted or refused
- Your own supporting documents and a dated timeline
For bail and sureties
- Identity and address proof of the accused
- Surety's identity, address and solvency papers
- Medical records, if health is a ground
- Passport, if the court may ask for surrender
Tracking your case: CNR number, cause lists and hearings
Every case in the Delhi district courts has a CNR number, a 16-character code that lets you check the status, next date and orders on the e-Courts website or app. Ask for it as soon as the case reaches court. Orders are often uploaded within a few days, and reading the actual order is far better than relying on someone's account of what the judge said.
The Delhi High Court publishes daily cause lists and case status on its website, and lists matters by item number in each court. Being on the list does not mean your case will be reached; long lists mean some matters are adjourned without a hearing. Your advocate should tell you after every date what happened and what the next step is. We send a short update after each hearing with the next date and anything you need to do before it.
Legal aid and free advocates in Delhi
If you cannot afford an advocate, you are entitled to one at the State's expense. The Delhi State Legal Services Authority and the District Legal Services Authorities in each court complex provide legal aid counsel, including at the remand stage, and the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee does the same in the High Court. Women, children, persons in custody and people below an income limit qualify.
We say this plainly because it is true: for a person in custody with no means, legal aid is a real option and the remand advocates in Delhi courts handle a large number of bail matters. Where a family can engage private counsel, the difference is usually time: a private advocate can prepare the file before the hearing and follow the case closely between dates.
Mistakes we see in Delhi criminal cases
Going to the police station without papers, or without a copy of what you hand over, is the commonest. The second is filing in the wrong court: an anticipatory bail application in a complex that does not cover the police station, or a regular bail application in the ordinary Sessions Court when the case is before an NDPS or POCSO court. Each wrong step costs a date.
Others are specific to Delhi's pace. Families wait for the next magistrate date after a bail refusal, when the Sessions Court could have been approached the same week. Accused persons ignore CAW cell notices, then find the FIR registered with a note that they did not cooperate. People with a pending case travel abroad without permission and come back to find a look out circular, which our LOC page explains.
How long do criminal cases take in Delhi courts, and what does it cost?
Bail is the fastest part: a magistrate often decides within days, and a Sessions Court within one to three weeks. Quashing petitions in the Delhi High Court may take a few months, and settlement quashing is usually quicker than merits-based quashing. Trials take longer: a magistrate trial with a few witnesses may run two to four years, and a Sessions trial longer, depending on witnesses and forensic reports. We will not promise a timeline, because the court's list and the prosecution's witnesses decide it.
Fees are discussed at the first meeting and agreed in writing, stage by stage, such as bail, quashing or trial. Court fees in criminal matters are small. Certified copies, typing and travel, and an Advocate-on-Record if the matter reaches the Supreme Court, are separate costs, and we tell you about them in advance. The Supreme Court stage is covered on our Supreme Court lawyer in Delhi page.
How we work on criminal cases in Delhi
Advocate B.K. Singh has practised in the Delhi courts for more than twenty years and appears in bail, quashing, trial and appeal hearings across the district complexes and in the Delhi High Court. What he looks at first is usually the sections and the stage: those two facts decide which court can help and what it will want to see. Advocate Sadhna Singh usually takes the first call, collects the papers and tells the family what is needed for the next date.
For agency-specific cases, such as CBI, ED or NIA matters, our criminal law practice section explains each type. If you have a notice, an FIR or a hearing date, send it through the online enquiry form with the police station and the next date.
Frequently asked questions
Which court will hear my criminal case in Delhi?
The district court complex that covers the police station where the FIR was registered, such as Tis Hazari for central and west Delhi or Saket for south Delhi. CBI and Delhi ACB cases go to Rouse Avenue. You can confirm the exact court on the e-Courts website once you have the CNR number.
How do I check whether an FIR has been registered against me in Delhi?
Delhi Police uploads most FIRs on its website, searchable by police station and date, except sensitive cases such as sexual offences. If you suspect an FIR but cannot find it, your advocate can make enquiries or seek a copy from the court. Do not approach the complainant to find out.
What is the CAW cell in Delhi?
The Crime Against Women cell is a Delhi Police unit in each district that handles complaints of cruelty and dowry harassment. It usually calls both parties for counselling before an FIR is registered. If reconciliation fails, it may recommend an FIR. Attending its hearings with an advocate is advisable.
Where do I file anticipatory bail in Delhi?
In the Sessions Court of the district complex that covers the police station, before the Sessions Judge, who assigns it to a court. If the Sessions Court refuses, you can apply to the Delhi High Court. For FIRs in Noida or Ghaziabad, the Sessions Court there and then the Allahabad High Court.
How long does quashing of an FIR take in the Delhi High Court?
A settlement-based quashing petition can be decided within a few hearings once the complainant appears and confirms the settlement. A quashing petition on merits usually takes longer, as the State files a status report and arguments may run over several dates. Listing and the court's workload affect the timeline.
Can an FIR be quashed after a compromise in Delhi?
Yes, for essentially private disputes such as matrimonial, commercial cheating and minor assault cases. The Delhi High Court requires the complainant to confirm the settlement, usually in person or by video link, and may impose costs. Serious offences like rape or murder are not quashed on compromise.
What is a Judicial Magistrate?
In Delhi, judicial magistrates are called Judicial Magistrates. They handle remand, bail in most offences, trials of offences punishable with up to seven years, complaint cases and cheque bounce cases. Offences triable by a Sessions Court are committed by the magistrate to the Sessions Judge.
What happens if someone is arrested in Delhi at night or on a Sunday?
They must still be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours. On holidays and after court hours, a duty magistrate handles production and remand. A bail application can be made at that hearing, so the family should arrange an advocate and documents as soon as they hear of the arrest.
Which jail will an accused be sent to in Delhi?
Delhi has three jail complexes: Tihar, Rohini and Mandoli. The court orders judicial custody and the person is lodged according to jail allocation. Families can find the jail and prisoner details through the jail authorities, and visits and interviews with advocates are arranged through the jail's system.
Can I file a case against the police in Delhi for not registering my FIR?
First complain in writing to the DCP of the district, then apply to the magistrate under BNSS s.175(3) for a direction to investigate. In cases of serious misconduct, a complaint can also go to senior officers or the court can be asked to act. Keep the DD number and proof of each step.
Does EOW Delhi arrest people?
The Economic Offences Wing can arrest in cognizable offences like cheating and breach of trust, but it usually collects documents and examines parties first. People named in EOW cases often have time to place their records before the IO and to seek anticipatory bail if arrest becomes likely.
What are Rouse Avenue courts?
Rouse Avenue is a district court complex in central Delhi that houses special courts, including CBI courts, courts for Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch cases, PMLA courts and courts for cases against MPs and MLAs. It does not cover ordinary police station cases.
Can I appear by video conference in a Delhi court?
The Delhi High Court and many district courts allow appearance by video conference in suitable matters, and the BNSS permits proceedings in electronic mode. Whether an accused can appear by video on a particular date depends on the court and the stage. Your advocate can apply for it where travel is difficult.
Is my case in Delhi or UP if the incident happened in Noida?
If the offence happened in Noida, the FIR is usually registered by the Gautam Buddh Nagar police and tried at the district court at Surajpur, with the Allahabad High Court above it. You may still lodge a zero FIR at a Delhi police station, which will be transferred to the police with jurisdiction.
How do I get a copy of the chargesheet in Delhi?
The accused is entitled to a free copy of the police report and documents from the court, usually supplied on the first appearance after cognizance. If it is incomplete, your advocate can apply for the missing documents. The complainant can also apply for a copy.
Can a criminal case be transferred from one Delhi court to another?
Yes. The Principal District and Sessions Judge can transfer cases within the district, and the Delhi High Court can transfer cases between districts. The applicant must show a real reason, such as a reasonable apprehension that a fair trial is not possible, not just inconvenience or dislike of a judge.
Do I need a Delhi-based lawyer for a Delhi criminal case?
Any advocate enrolled in India can appear, but a Delhi-based advocate knows the local courts, the IOs' practices and the High Court registry, which saves time. For a case outside Delhi, a local advocate is usually engaged alongside the main counsel.
What is the Delhi High Court status report in a bail application?
It is the police's written account of the investigation, filed through the State's counsel, usually after the first hearing. It covers the allegations, evidence collected, the accused's role, criminal record and reasons for opposing bail. The defence answers it in arguments or in a short rejoinder.
Is free legal aid available for criminal cases in Delhi?
Yes. The Delhi State Legal Services Authority, the district legal services authorities at each court complex and the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee provide free advocates to eligible people, including all persons in custody, women and children. Ask the court or the jail for legal aid if you cannot afford counsel.
Can a person with a pending criminal case in Delhi travel abroad?
Only with the trial court's permission if bail conditions require it, and often with an undertaking or a deposit. Travelling without permission risks cancellation of bail and a look out circular. If you are on anticipatory bail or have not been arrested, check the order and any LOC before booking.