Concern over delays in cybercrime cases prompts Karnataka police to mandate immediate transfer of FIRs

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The move comes amid concerns that delay in acting on cyber fraud complaints can hamper efforts to preserve digital evidence. | Photo Credit: File photo

Concern over delays in reporting and registering cybercrime cases at police stations across Karnataka, resulting in the loss of the crucial “golden hour” for taking immediate action to prevent financial losses, has prompted the State police to order the immediate transfer of such cases to specialised cybercrime police stations after registration of FIRs.

In a circular dated September 11, Director General and Inspector General of Police M.A. Saleem directed all unit officers to ensure that complaints relating to cybercrime and IT Act, 2000, offences registered at jurisdictional or local police stations are immediately transferred to the district/city cybercrime police station concerned after registration of FIR.

The move comes amid concerns that delay in acting on cyber fraud complaints can hamper efforts to preserve digital evidence and, particularly in financial fraud cases, freeze or hold suspected fraudulent transactions before the money is moved through multiple accounts.

According to the circular, local police stations will continue to receive complaints and register FIRs. However, once an FIR is registered, the case must be “immediately transferred” to the cybercrime police station, which must “immediately take up the case for investigation.”

The specialised units have been tasked with timely preservation and analysis of digital evidence, technical examination of electronic devices and records, and coordination with banks, payment intermediaries, telecom service providers, social media platforms and other agencies.

The circular also directs District Superintendents of Police and City Commissioners of Police to closely supervise the transfer and investigation of cybercrime cases. District and city cybercrime police stations have been instructed to maintain records of cases transferred from jurisdictional police stations and ensure proper investigation.

The directive is expected to streamline the handling of cybercrime complaints and ensure that specialised investigators are involved at the earliest stage, particularly in cases involving online financial fraud where prompt intervention can be critical to tracing and freezing the defrauded money.

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