If your phone is lost or stolen in Chennai, you need two things in your first hours: a police complaint with a number on it, and a request to block the handset’s IMEI on the Department of Telecommunications’ Sanchar Saathi portal. The block request form will not go through without the police station name, complaint number and a copy of the complaint.
For a lost document such as a passport, licence, certificate or ID card, the first step is the same: a police record of the loss, which most offices want before they issue a duplicate. Here is how to get both done, mostly online.
Step one: the police report
Tamil Nadu Police runs a citizen services portal at eservices.tnpolice.gov.in. It offers online complaint registration, a lost document report, and status checks on complaints. You can also file through any e-Sevai centre: the state IT department’s service list shows a ₹20 charge for online police complaint registration and ₹10 for checking CSR or FIR status.
- Lost document report: for items simply misplaced. Fill in what was lost, where and when, and download the report, which carries a reference number. Keep a printout and a PDF.
- Online complaint: for theft, or where you suspect misuse. The station may register it as a CSR (Community Service Register entry, the receipt for a complaint) or an FIR, depending on the facts.
- At the station: you can also go to the police station for the area where the loss happened. Ask for a CSR copy with the number written on it.
Be precise in the description. For a phone, give the make, model, colour and both IMEI numbers. For documents, list each one with its number if you know it, such as the passport or licence number. Vague reports are harder to use later when you apply for duplicates.
Report it under the station for where the item was lost, not where you live, if you know the place. For a phone snatched on a bus or train, mention the route and time.
Step two: block the phone on Sanchar Saathi
Blocking the IMEI stops the handset from working on any Indian network and helps police trace it if someone puts in a new SIM. The Sanchar Saathi portal sets out the order:
- File the police report and keep a copy.
- Get a duplicate SIM for your lost number from your mobile operator. The OTP for the request comes to this number, and SMS on a re-issued SIM starts only 24 hours after activation.
- Gather an identity proof and, if you have it, the purchase invoice. The invoice is optional.
- Fill the block request on the portal, the Sanchar Saathi app, or through the state police.
- Save the Request ID. You need it to check status and to unblock the phone later.
The CEIR form asks for the mobile number, both IMEI numbers if available, brand, model, price, place and date of loss, state, district, police station, complaint number and an upload of the complaint. If you upload Aadhaar as ID, it must be a masked copy. You can find your IMEI on the phone’s box or bill, so keep the box.
When the phone is recovered, use the Unblock option on the same CEIR services page with your Request ID. A Forgot Request ID option is there if you lose it.
Before you lose a phone, it helps to note both IMEI numbers somewhere safe. Dialling *#06# on most handsets shows them, and they are also printed on the box.
If money has gone too
A stolen phone is often followed by attempts on UPI and bank apps. Call your bank to freeze cards and UPI, change passwords for email and banking from another device, and report any financial fraud on 1930, the national helpline listed on the cybercrime reporting portal. Sanchar Saathi points users with money losses to 1930 rather than its own tools.
Replacing common documents
| Document | Where to replace | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Passport Seva portal, then a PSK or POPSK | ₹3,000 (36 pages) or ₹3,500 (60 pages), per the fee schedule |
| Aadhaar | Download a fresh copy on myAadhaar; no reissue needed | Download is free; centre services as per UIDAI charges |
| PAN | Reprint or download e-PAN through UTIITSL or Protean | Agency reprint charges apply |
| Driving licence | Duplicate licence through the Parivahan Sarathi service | Transport department fee |
| Smart ration card | Duplicate through e-Sevai or the TNPDS site | e-Sevai printing charge |
For a lost passport, the police report is part of the application, and the replacement fee is higher than a normal re-issue.
Quick answers
Do I need a police complaint to block a lost phone?
Yes. The CEIR form needs the police station, complaint number and a copy of the complaint.
How do I unblock my phone after finding it?
Use the Unblock found mobile handset option on Sanchar Saathi with your Request ID.
Can I file a lost document report online in Tamil Nadu?
Yes, through the Tamil Nadu Police citizen services portal or an e-Sevai centre.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Block lost/stolen mobile, Sanchar Saathi (Department of Telecommunications)
- CEIR block request form (Department of Telecommunications)
- CEIR citizen services (Department of Telecommunications)
- List of services offered in e-sevai centres, TN Police services (Information Technology Department, Tamil Nadu)
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (Ministry of Home Affairs)
- Fee Structure, replacement passport (Passport Seva, Ministry of External Affairs)
- Aadhaar Enrolment and Update charges (UIDAI)
