# Acquitted, but the FIR still shows?

> A real case: a kite-flying FIR in Lahore, an acquittal under section 249-A CrPC, and a certificate for UK travel that still named the FIR. On 18 Jul 2025 the Lahore High Court ordered a certificate that shows the acquittal and leaves the FIR out.

- Topic: Criminal law
- For: Citizens
- A 11-slide carousel: https://failegal.site/media/acquitted-but-the-fir-still-shows-certificate
- Published by FAI Legal on 2026-11-08

## The court said: take it off.

Lahore High Court, W.P. 40844 of 2025, 18 Jul 2025.

- **The order** A police certificate that shows his acquittal.
- **And** No mention of the FIR.
- **Why** Fairness, dignity and the presumption of innocence.

## A kite. An FIR.

Lahore, 2024.

- **The case** An FIR under the Punjab kite-flying law.
- **20 Dec 2024** Acquitted under section 249-A, CrPC.
- **13 Mar 2025** His police certificate for UK travel still lists the FIR.

## He asked. They waited.

Then came a written no.

- **2 May 2025** High Court: decide his application in 15 days.
- **Next** No decision. He files for contempt.
- **3 Jun 2025** The Home Secretary refuses.

## The ruling.

Once the acquittal is final.

- **No more tying** Authorities cannot keep linking you to that charge.
- **The certificate** Must show your real legal status.
- **The FIR** Leave it out.

## What is 249-A?

Section 249-A, CrPC.

> "Nothing in this Chapter shall be deemed to prevent a Magistrate from acquitting an accused at any stage of the case if after hearing the prosecutor and the accused and for reasons to be recorded, he considers that the charge is groundless or that there is no probability of the accused being convicted of any offence." (Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 · s.249-A)

## Myth or fact?

What people fear.

- **Myth: An FIR stays on your record forever, even after acquittal.**
- **Fact: After a final acquittal, the Lahore High Court ordered the FIR left off his police certificate.**

## Your steps.

What he did.

- **Certified copies** The acquittal order, and proof it is final.
- **Apply in writing** For a certificate that shows the acquittal.
- **Refused or ignored?** He went to the High Court in a writ petition.

## Cleared? In 3 lines.

The slide to keep.

- **Acquitted and final** You are not "the accused" any more.
- **The certificate** Should say so.
- **If it does not** Apply, then the High Court.

## An old FIR on you?

Ask FAI for the judgments.

- **I was acquitted but my police certificate still shows the FIR. What can I do?**
- **Can an old FIR block a job after acquittal?**

## Sources

- Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 · s.249-A: Acquittal at any stage

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