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CYBERCRIME IS the only crime, other than motor vehicle theft, that has seen an increase during the pandemic, but the detection and conviction rate continues to be a major problem and not even a single trial of these cases. ‘has been completed in Maharashtra from 2020 until August this year.
Cybercrime has steadily increased in the state, from 4,822 cases in 2019 to 5,458 cases in 2020, but the detection rate remained at 18% in both years, which is a significant drop from 2018 when the detection percentage was 32.8%.
Another major problem is the conviction rate. Over the past seven years, from 2015 to 2020, a total of 21,970 cases have been recorded of which only 5,513 have been detected (or 25%). Of these 5,513 cases detected until 2020, trials are completed in only 382 (or 7% of cases) while the rest are pending in court or under investigation.
In these 382 cases, the accused were convicted in 99 cases (26%) and acquitted in 283 cases (74%). Cyber ​​experts highlighted the loopholes in the law, lack of knowledge, inaction and awareness as major issues for the increase in cybercrime in the state.
“The reported cases are only the tip of the iceberg and many cases go unreported. The low conviction rate for cybercrime is explained by the lack of in-depth knowledge of police, prosecutors and magistrates. Prosecutors and magistrates must be informed of the
complexity of cybercrime and the technology used to commit the crime. According to the Computer Law of 2000, only an inspector can investigate cybercrimes. Computer science graduates should be force-recruited and regularly trained to investigate cybercrimes. The detection rate is low because cybercriminals keep innovating in their modus operandi and techniques and the police due to the unavailability of technology, training and manpower have not been able to to follow. Last but not least, the police department needs to be educated on cybercrime on a regular basis, â€said Dr Sivanadhan, former Mumbai Police Commissioner and Director General of Police (DGP), Maharashtra.
Attorney Prashant Mali, a cybercrime lawyer at the Bombay High Court, suggested using Lok Adalat for a speedy case resolution and underlined the urgent implementation of an initiative by the Ministry of Interior allowing a cyber fraud victim to call and freeze the bank account. where his money is transferred by a cybercriminal.
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