Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Sep 14: In a pioneering move to tackle the surge in cyber frauds, India’s first-ever Cyber Command Centre was launched in Bengaluru following directions from the Karnataka High Court to the state government. The government has now appointed Pranab Mohanty as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) to lead the centre’s operations.
The newly established Cyber Command Centre aims to bring all cybercrime-related complaints under a single, streamlined investigative umbrella. Bengaluru currently has 45 cyber police stations, and cases are also being reported through the national cybercrime helpline 1930 — a key mechanism for victims to report online financial frauds quickly.
With the new setup, all complaints lodged either at the cyber police stations or through helpline 1930 will now be routed to and coordinated by the Cyber Command Centre. The centre will not only register cases but also oversee investigations and the submission of forensic and legal reports, ensuring swifter response times and a more coordinated effort to bring offenders to justice.
According to police sources, Karnataka has a backlog of over 16,000 unresolved cybercrime cases. Until now, regular police officers were required to manage both law and order responsibilities and cybercrime investigations, leading to delays and diluted focus. With the Command Centre now in place, dedicated teams will be tasked solely with handling cybercrime.
“This initiative allows us to recruit personnel with specific technical expertise in cybercrime investigation,” a senior police official confirmed. “Officers will be trained and equipped to handle digital evidence, coordinate with financial institutions, and act swiftly when citizens report crimes via 1930 or at cyber police stations.”
The centre is also expected to ease the workload on general police stations and improve case resolution rates, particularly in complex online frauds involving phishing, identity theft, financial scams, and social media crimes.
With Pranab Mohanty at the helm, the Cyber Command Centre is anticipated to become a model for other states, offering a centralised, tech-driven approach to cybercrime enforcement in India.