HC poser: Why FIR copy not given to accused?

CUTTACK: Responding to a PIL, a division bench of Orissa High Court, comprising Chief justice V Gopalagowda and Justice B N Mohapatra directed the State and Central Government to submit counter-affidavits on why the accused are not provided a copy of the FIR filed against them. The petitioner, advocate Arun Kumar Budhia had submitted a PIL raising the issue. Budhia had appealed to the court to take necessary actions to facilitate the issuance of a copy of the FIR to the accused. Under Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the complainant is entitled to a copy of the FIR, but not the accused.Budhia, in the PIL, said the accused thus faces handicaps in dealing with the case as in seeking legal recourse or applying for anticipatory bail in the court, being unaware of the charges pressed and the section of Indian Penal Code under which the case has been registered.The petitioner said not all complaints made against the accused are justified. Often, false cases are also filed. Thus, the accused might suffer without a copy of the FIR. Budhia called for provisions under the law to extend a free  copy of the FIR to the accused.