One of my clients recently had a case which I am explaining below and if you are stuck in such similar situation, here is what to do.

Note: Due to attorney-client privilege, I cannot disclose complete case details or identify the actual parties involved. However, I am sharing the essential facts and legal approach so that if you find yourself in a similar situation, you can understand the available solutions and legal remedies.

Mr.X approached my office with concerns about his business partner Mr.Y, who was planning to join their company XYZ Pvt Ltd as a director. Before finalizing the partnership agreement, Mr.X wanted to verify whether Mr.Y had any pending litigation or criminal cases across India. Mr.Y had lived in multiple cities including City A, City B, and Area X, making it challenging to search specific jurisdictions. Mr.X needed a comprehensive search across all courts to ensure due diligence before entering the business relationship. The challenge was conducting a nationwide case search without knowing specific court jurisdictions where Mr.Y might have been involved as either petitioner or respondent in various legal proceedings.

Advice in Such Cases

Consult with Lawyer: The very basic and important step to start is talk to Lawyer / advocate. You should not hesitate in paying his consultation fee i.e. might be in range of Rs. 10,000 to 50,000 depends case to case. He is helping you in this situation to come out. He is expert in the domain and can help you explain the procedure which you might have never explored. A good lawyer can get the issues resolved much faster than you think.

Use professional legal research services that have access to multiple court databases simultaneously. Engage private investigation agencies specializing in legal background verification. Consider hiring local advocates in major cities where the person might have resided to conduct manual searches in respective courts.

Applicable Sections of Law

Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Section 173 deals with police report procedures that become part of court records. Section 190 of BNSS covers cognizance of offenses by magistrates, creating searchable case records. The Right to Information Act, 2005, allows access to court records as public documents. Additionally, the Information Technology Act governs digital court records maintained through eCourts system, ensuring systematic case documentation across all jurisdictions for proper legal research and verification purposes.

If You Are the Complainant

• File RTI applications with High Court Registrars in major states requesting case search details
• Engage advocate networks across different states for manual court searches
• Use eCourts portal systematically by searching major district courts where person likely resided
• Hire professional legal research firms with nationwide court database access
• Submit formal applications to court registries for case verification certificates

If You Are the Victim

• Document all known addresses and cities where the person resided for targeted searches
• Collect PAN card, Aadhaar, and other identity documents to ensure accurate name matching
• Maintain systematic records of search results from different courts and jurisdictions
• Consider alternative name spellings and variations while conducting searches
• Verify criminal background through police verification certificates from respective jurisdictions

How the Police Behave in Such Cases

Police generally provide limited assistance in civil case searches as their primary database covers criminal matters. They may issue character certificates or police verification reports for specific jurisdictions. However, police records don’t include civil litigation details. Officers typically redirect such requests to court registries or suggest using eCourts portal for comprehensive case searches across different court hierarchies.

FAQs People Normally Have

Can I search all courts simultaneously? No single platform covers all courts, but eCourts covers most district courts and some High Courts.

How accurate are online searches? Online databases may have gaps, manual verification often required for complete accuracy.

What about Supreme Court cases? Supreme Court maintains separate database accessible through their official website.

Are old cases available online? Digitization varies by court, older cases may require manual registry searches.

What Evidence Is Required?

• Complete name with all known variations and spellings
• Father’s name and address details for accurate identification
• PAN card number for precise identity matching
• List of cities and states where person resided
• Approximate time periods for targeted date-wise searches
• Any known case numbers or court references
• Identity proof documents for verification purposes

How Long Will the Investigation Take?

Manual nationwide case search typically takes 2-4 weeks depending on number of jurisdictions. Professional agencies complete searches within 7-15 days. eCourts online searches can be done immediately but may miss courts not digitized. RTI responses take 30 days as per legal timeline. Comprehensive verification including criminal background takes 3-6 weeks for thorough nationwide coverage.

Advocate Sudhir Rao, Supreme Court of India