Generally, police cannot register an FIR against a person already facing trial for the same act, since this would violate the principle against double jeopardy under Article 20(2) and Section 300 CrPC (Section 337 BNSS), which bars a second prosecution for the same offence once proceedings have already been initiated. Whether police can register an FIR against a person already facing trial for the same act changes only where the new FIR relates to a genuinely distinct offence arising from different facts, even if connected to the same broader incident. This protection exists to prevent the harassment and hardship that would come from being repeatedly prosecuted for the same wrongdoing, and it applies from the point proceedings genuinely commence, not only after a final verdict is reached.

In practice, duplicate FIRs sometimes arise from miscommunication between police stations, a complainant filing a fresh complaint elsewhere without disclosing the earlier proceedings, or occasionally, a deliberate attempt to harass the accused through parallel litigation over the same underlying dispute. Identifying whether a new FIR genuinely duplicates an existing prosecution requires comparing the specific facts, the offence alleged, and the parties involved across both matters carefully, since even minor differences in framing do not necessarily create a genuinely separate offence.

If you believe a new FIR has been wrongly registered for the same matter already under trial, this can form strong grounds for quashing, and courts have shown willingness to intervene decisively once satisfied that the two proceedings genuinely concern the same offence and set of facts. Acting promptly to bring the duplication to the court's attention prevents unnecessary parallel proceedings and the wasted time and stress that comes with defending the same allegations twice.

For assistance challenging a duplicate FIR, Aapka Legal Advice can review both proceedings and advise accordingly, comparing the facts and offences alleged in each to determine whether genuine grounds for quashing exist. Our network of Top Criminal Lawyers in India and retired judges panel have successfully challenged such duplicate prosecutions, understanding exactly how courts assess whether two FIRs genuinely concern the same offence. In conclusion, the law offers strong protection against being prosecuted twice for the same wrongdoing, and prompt legal action can bring an improperly duplicated FIR to an end.