Cyber crime in Mumbai jumps 350% but cyber dept stays headless without a DCP for 18-months

This disconnect is starkly evident in the fact that Mumbai’s cyber police department has been without a full-time deputy commissioner of police (DCP) for a staggering 575 days—18 months and 25 days, as of December 23, 2024.

Despite numerous requests from within the department, the state home department and the Mumbai police commissioner have failed to appoint a full-time DCP for the cyber police division. For the past 18 months, various DCPs from the city’s crime branch have temporarily held additional responsibility for overseeing the cyber crime unit. The last full-time DCP of the department, Balsingh Rajput, stepped down on May 29, 2023.

The unseen crisis
Cyber crime cases in Mumbai have seen a sharp rise, with cases increasing by nearly 350 per cent in the past one year with the total financial fraud resulting from such crimes surpassing a staggering Rs 1,200 crore. Yet the recovery rate for these cases remains alarmingly low at just 11-12 per cent. The failure to address the problem proactively is leaving countless families devastated by financial loss, and the city’s police force seems to be increasingly indifferent to this growing modern day threat.

A full-time DCP for the Cyber Police Department is essential, as this officer oversees the operations of five regional cyber police stations across Mumbai. These stations handle sensitive and high-value cases involving frauds over Rs 10 lakh, making the position crucial to the effective detection, prevention and strategic response to these crimes.

An innovative method for effective tackling of cyber crime introduced by DCP Cyber can be replicated by other zonal DCPs of Mumbai in tackling the menace of this fast-evolving crime, an officer said.

A senior IPS officer from Mumbai Police confirmed that there has been no full-time DCP Cyber for over one-and-a-half years. Numerous internal requests for this position have been ignored, raising serious concerns about the city’s commitment to combating cyber crimes.

As one cyber expert said, “It’s a sorry state of affairs that the city’s Cyber Police Department, which is supposed to be the nodal body for detecting and preventing cyber crimes, has been without a full-time DCP.”

Mumbai police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar, special commissioner Deven Bharti and Mumbai police PRO DCP Datta Nalawade did not respond to phone calls and text messages seeking their comments on no appointment of a full-time DCP Cyber for 18 months.

The importance of a full-time DCP Cyber

A dedicated full-time DCP Cyber is crucial to address the rapidly evolving nature of cyber crime. A senior officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed the need for a dedicated leader in this position. “If entrusted with this responsibility, a full-time senior officer would focus on identifying key trends, analysing their root causes, and formulating long-term solutions to prevent these crimes from escalating,” the officer said.

A permanent DCP Cyber would also collaborate with national and international cyber crime combating agencies, creating a comprehensive strategy to tackle the theft of personal data — a key tool used by fraudsters to target victims. However, Mumbai’s Cyber Police Department operates in a reactive manner, addressing only the most high-profile cases without pursuing a broader strategy to dismantle organised cyber criminal networks operating locally and abroad.

Fast-evolving threats, slow response

Cyber crime is a fast-evolving threat with new methods, technologies and criminal gangs emerging regularly. Mumbai police, however, is falling behind. By the time they analyse and respond to new cyber crime methods, the fraudsters would cause significant harm. Without a full-time DCP, the department’s capacity to train officers and implement effective counter measures is severely compromised, a source in the cyber department said.

Another officer added, “A full-time DCP would ensure that we stay one step ahead of criminals. They would regularly interact with law enforcement agencies in other cities and countries, stay updated on new trends, and share intelligence on criminal networks, helping us formulate better solutions.”

Unfortunately, decision-making within the Cyber Police Department has been delayed due to the lack of a full-time head. Critical problems faced by lower-ranking officers often go unheard, further hindering the department’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively.

A senior officer from the home department said, “We are aware of this and are working on it. The additional charge of the DCP Cyber is handled by another DCP and the functioning of the department does not stop.” The officer, however, did not refuse the significance of having a full-time DCP.

On increase in cyber crime cases, the officer claimed that it is because Mumbai Police are showing full transparency in recording the cases. “In fact, our response is good when compared with other agencies in the country,” the officer said.

Lack of leadership, resources

The Cyber Police Department is also operating without an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), a position that has been vacant for a few months. In addition to leadership gaps, the department is suffering from a critical shortage of manpower, with more than 40% of positions unfilled. The department is functioning with just 12 police inspectors, far fewer than the 20 required for effective operations.

An officer from the department said, “With so many cases, officers are overburdened. Many have over 35 cases each, which severely limits their ability to conduct thorough investigation. Cyber crime isn’t just a statistical issue—it’s a matter of people’s lives, their savings, and sometimes, their very future.”

At present, the West Region Cyber Police station is the most overburdened unit, with cyber crime cases having surged from 138 FIRs last year to 350 by September 30, 2024. Officers predict the number of cases will exceed 500 by the end of the year. Despite this exponential rise in cases, there has been no increase in staff or resources to handle the growing workload.

The financial toll

One of the most disturbing aspects of this crisis is the lack of accurate data on the financial toll of cyber crime in Mumbai. Despite repeated inquiries under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the city police force is unable to provide reliable figures on how much money has been lost by Mumbaikars in various cyber crimes.

In fact, the police department does not even maintain a comprehensive record of the amounts involved in cyber crime cases reported at local police stations. Only five out of 99 police stations track this information, and the police headquarters has no system to collect it for city.

A senior police officer admitted, “We don’t have any mechanism to track and analyse the financial impact of cyber crime. But we are working on it and hope to implement a system soon.”

Sluggish response

Despite the urgency expressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government in addressing the growing threat of cyber crime, the response at the local level has been sluggish.

As one cyber police officer put it, “The Prime Minister and the Home Ministry are taking cyber crime seriously, but the Mumbai Police seem indifferent. It is shameful that our city, often touted as one of the finest police forces in the world, is failing to respond adequately to the cyber threats that are destroying lives.”