By Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS): Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy raised the issue of rising crime rates in the national capital, during a debate in Parliament, and said how free efiling of FIRs has made Delhi the No 1 in crime as per as the data released by the NCRB.

IANS had reported exactly the same a month ago, a day after the official data was released.

The number of crimes was the highest in the national capital in comparison to other metropolitan cities, including Chennai and Mumbai, in 2017, data released by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) revealed last month.

IANS had reported then that the rise in crime in Delhi is because of free registration of FIRs, a fact validated by Roy when he was speaking in Parliament on Tuesday.

A few days ago when we had contacted Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Rajan Bhagat, he had said: "We are not raising questions on the NCRB data, but yes, in Delhi we have provided the facility to file FIRs through mobile apps. People used this app to report even petty crimes. It is because of this, the crime rates in Delhi have increased."

He further added that if e-FIRs are excluded from the record, Delhi is far below in the crime records chart.

Replying to the question, Union minister of state for home affairs, G Kishan Reddy admitted that in 2017, Delhi topped in crime rates because of e-filing of FIRs.

"Unlike rest of the metropolitan cities, Delhi provides e-filing of FIRs through apps. Therefore, it is quite natural that the crime rates in the national capital will increase."