Chargesheet

For the 2011 film, see Chargesheet (film).

In policing on the Indian subcontinent, a chargesheet is prepared after first information reports (FIRs), and charges an individual for (some or all of) the crimes specified in those reports.^{[1][unreliable source] [2][3]}

Once the chargesheet has been submitted to a court of law, the court decides as to who among the accused has sufficient prima facie evidence against them to be put on trial. After the court pronounces its order on framing of charges, prosecution proceedings against the accused begin in the judicial system.^[4]

Contents

• Names of the parties involved (complainant, accused, witnesses).
• Nature of the information or offense committed.
• List of evidence collected (documents, forensic reports, seized items, witness statements).
• Status of the accused (whether arrested, in custody, or released on bail).
• The relevant legal provisions (sections of the Indian Penal Code or other laws) under which the accused is charged.

Privacy

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that chargesheets are not public documents and cannot be made freely accessible to the public, as this would compromise the rights of the accused, victims, and the investigation agencies. They are, however, provided to the accused to prepare their defense.^[5]

Evidentiary Value

A chargesheet itself is not a substantive piece of evidence or proof of guilt, it is the opinion of the investigating officer based on their findings. The charges mentioned in it must be proven in court during the trial through admissible evidence and witness testimonies.