Is it legal to file multiple FIRs for the same offence?

No, it is not legal to file multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) for the same offence.

The Supreme Court in T.T. Antony v. State of Kerala (2001) held that only one FIR can be registered for a particular incident or occurrence. Registering subsequent FIRs on the same facts amounts to abuse of process and violates Article 21, which protects against double jeopardy.

However, if new and distinct facts or separate offences arise, a fresh FIR may be allowed. Otherwise, additional information must be added to the existing investigation through supplementary reports.