163 years ago, first FIR in Delhi was on 45-anna theft

Delhi’s first First Information Report (FIR) was recorded 163 years ago and involved a theft of household items valued at 45 annas, including women’s clothes, a hookah, three cooking pots (dekchi), one bowl (katora) and few other sundry items.

The complaint was lodged by Maiuddin, a resident of Katra Sheesh Mahal. The case was registered at the Sabzi Mandi Police Station, Delhi’s and perhaps India’s oldest police station. Established in 1861, the station was set up following the enactment of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

At that time, Delhi was part of the Punjab province and the dominant languages for court and police documents were Urdu and Persian. As the police station marked its 163rd anniversary on October 18, Station House Officer Ram Mohan Mishra told The Tribune that Delhi’s very first FIR was written in both Urdu and Persian languages.

Like earlier, the national capital’s Sabzi Mandi area holds a significant historical value. Mishra attributes this to its location — near historical landmarks like Kashmiri Gate and Tis Hazari Court. Presence of major hospitals such as St Stephen’s and Hindu Rao here only adds to the police station’s importance.

“These areas have their own rich history,” Mishra said. “Sabzi Mandi was once a part of Delhi-6, the walled city, but after delimitation, it now falls under Delhi-7,” Mishra explains. The station’s name, he says, originates from the description of the old vegetable market (sabzi mandi) that once operated from there.

Mishra highlighted a major hallmark of the area — its communally harmonious people. “Sabzi Mandi is home to a diverse population — Sikhs, Jains, Muslims and Hindus — and has never reported a communal case in its history. The harmony in this area is something we are very proud of,” he said.

The station has a long-standing reputation for maintaining peace, and the crime rate in its jurisdiction has remained relatively low, with pickpocketing and snatching being the most common offences. Mishra attributed the decline in crime to the station’s focus on community engagement. Initiatives such as self-defence classes for children and regular awareness meetings addressing drug dependence and sexual exploitation have played a crucial role in fostering a safer environment.

Sabzi Mandi has also handled some high-profile cases, including the 2023 shooting incident between lawyers and the 2019 violent clash between police and lawyers, which resulted in vandalism, arson, and injuries to 20 police personnel and lawyers.