City to have independent Cyber Police Station to probe on-line fraud cases

Special Correspondent :

The existing Cyber Crime Cell to be converted into a full-fledged Cyber Police Station

SUDDEN surge in on-line frauds prompted city police to start an independent Cyber Police Station. Arrangement of adequate staff, including officers and other paraphernalia has been made to start functioning of the new police station exclusively to tackle cyber crimes. The existing Cyber Crime Cell which was set up in 2005, would be converted into a full-fledged Cyber Police Station with powers to register and detect cases under the Information Technology Act.

For Cyber Police Station, a total of 74 posts, including four Police Inspectors (PIs), nine Assistant Police Inspectors (APIs), three Police Sub-Inspectors (PSIs) and three Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) have been sanctioned. The government had earlier sanctioned four PIs, eight APIs, two PSIs, one ASI, four head constables, 15 Naik Constables and five constables to Cyber Cell. With 35 posts becoming surplus after withdrawal of security personnel by Currency Chest Branch of Bank of Maharashtra and MSEDCL Police Station, the same have been transferred to Cyber Police Station.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (EoW) would supervise Cyber Crime cases and Assistant Police Commissioner (EoW) would work as Divisional Controller of Cyber Police Station. Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) would function as its Regional Head. The new police station would register cases including phishing, vishing, credit and debit cards frauds and other cyber attacks.

The decision to set up the new police station was taken under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Dr Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay and Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Nilesh Bharne, holding additional charge of Joint Commissioner of Police, following spurt in on-line frauds during lockdown. The lockdown increased people’s dependence on the Internet and fraudsters and cyber criminals are taking advantage of the situation by stealing money and data. A senior police officer said, “Investigation of cases will expedite and on-line fraudsters and hackers will be easily brought to book with the creation of cyber police station.” It would also facilitate the victims of cyber criminals who had to run from pillar to post to get FIR registered, he added.