Hyderabad: Cybercrime victims in Hyderabad will not have to go all the way to a cybercrime police station to lodge a complaint, with local police stations being empowered to register the same.
The Hyderabad Police have initiated the process in this regard to help victims approach the police immediately so that action can be taken promptly.
Previously, victims of cybercrimes, including financial fraud, online harassment, sexual harassment, communal content and other cybercrime offences, had to visit the Hyderabad Cybercrime Police Station at Basheerbagh. Noticing the difficulties and the delay in reporting the crime, the police are now taking complaints at the local police stations.
KVM Prasad, ACP (Cybercrime), said if a victim loses below Rs 1 lakh to cyber fraudsters, they can visit the local police station to make a complaint. Action would be initiated by the local police, and the case investigation would also be done accordingly. “If the amount is above Rs 1 lakh, they can approach the Hyderabad Cybercrime Station,” he told ‘Telangana Today’.
City Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar last year announced that the local police stations would start accepting complaints pertaining to cybercrime in 2021. The decision was also taken considering the huge increase in cybercrime cases in the last few years.
Cybercrime cases are expected to rise further due to the rampant use of mobile phones, computers, tabs and laptops for financial transactions and office work.
So far, these cases were booked at Mirchowk, Mahankali, Lalaguda, Osmania University and other police stations in the city.
“An officer of the rank of the Inspector will be investigating the case if the case is booked under the Information Technology Act. If the sections of the Indian Penal Code are invoked, depending upon the severity of the case, either a Sub-Inspector or the Inspector himself will investigate the case,” said the ACP.
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