The Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) earlier this week sharply criticised the Uttar Pradesh Police for using exaggerated, “movie script-like” language in First Information Reports (FIRs), warning that such dramatisation undermines the integrity of criminal investigations.
During a recent hearing, the Lucknow Bench expressed concern over what it described as “hearsay and scripted” narration in an FIR that allegedly included the line: “Tum log police se ghir chuke ho” (You are all surrounded by the police).
The court observed that the growing tendency to embellish FIRs with theatrical elements distorts ground realities and prioritises narrative over facts. It highlighted that such language risks compromising the objectivity required in criminal proceedings.
The bench noted that FIRs are foundational documents in criminal law and must be rooted in factual precision rather than dramatic storytelling. It cautioned that borrowing language reminiscent of film dialogues weakens the credibility of investigations and reflects poorly on law enforcement practices.
FIR echoes Bollywood classic
In the 1978 film Don, the police officer, DSP D’Silva (played by Iftekhar), delivers this dialogue over a loudspeaker during a scene where the police cordon off the hotel to capture Don.:
“Don, police ne is building ko chaaron taraf se gher liya hai… tumhaare bachne ka koi raasta nahi hai.”
Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan (as Don) responds to this situation with his own legendary dialogue while addressing Kamini (played by Helen) inside the room: “Don ka intezaar toh 11 mulkon ki police kar rahi hai… lekin ek baat samajh lo, Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi, namumkin hai!”
The High Court’s objection to movie-script-like FIRs reflects mounting concern over the quality and drafting standards of FIRs in Uttar Pradesh. Legal observers say the ruling sends a clear message that investigative documentation must maintain professional restraint and avoid sensationalism.
By calling out what it termed “scripted” elements, the court signalled that law enforcement agencies must adhere strictly to procedural norms and factual reporting — leaving cinematic dialogue where it belongs: on the silver screen.