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People have always deterred from lodging a police complaint, fearing it being a tedious process amongst other worries. But now, you can lodge a police complaint online, thanks to the e-complaint initiative of Maharashtra government to be kicked off in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane in this week, according to a report. Proposed in August last year, this project will finally see the light of the day.

All you need to do is to log on to http://maharashtra.gov.in and upload your complaint along with your mobile number. Soon after, you will receive a quick reply and an e-complaint number will be sent to your mobile for future reference to your complaint. Maps of each and every police station will be provided for the complainant to find out under which jurisdiction is he or she to lodge the e-complaint.

But if you think that e-complaint is the same as filing an FIR (First Information Report), then it is not so. After you file the e-complaint, the concerned police station will fix an appointment with you, so that you may visit the police station in person to lodge a formal FIR.

According to Rajkumar Vhatkar, deputy commissioner police (Operations), "The best part of this e-complaint facility is that every e-complaint will have accountability. As the complaint progresses, the complainant will be informed at each and every stage." The progress of the case will also be updated online. The website can be accessed here, although it shows that it is awaiting approval and will be formally launched soon.

While the fact remains that most people still tend to keep away from the police station due to undue fears, the e-complaint initiative will surely provide them with at least a little respite.