Andhra Pradesh will introduce a Zero FIR mechanism for cybercrime complaints routed through the Cyber War Room, with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directing officials to ensure immediate registration so banks can be alerted within the golden hour and fraudulent fund transfers can be blocked before money moves out of victims’ accounts.
The directive came during a review of the police department’s cybercrime prevention strategy at the State Secretariat, where the Chief Minister stressed that cyber policing must work on the lines of regular policing and that prevention, public awareness and rapid institutional coordination must take precedence over delayed response after the damage is done.
Zero FIR and Golden Hour Response
Naidu instructed officials that complaints received through the Cyber War Room should automatically trigger a Zero FIR, enabling immediate action and early alerts to banks. He emphasised stronger coordination with banks as central to controlling cyber fraud and preventing losses during the first crucial period after a complaint is made.
He said the state must shift its focus from reacting after cyber offences occur to stopping them through vigilance, awareness and faster intervention. The Chief Minister also called for continuous public outreach so citizens are better informed about cyber threats and safer use of social media and digital platforms.
The approach reflects a more preventive model of cyber governance, in which early complaint registration and real time banking coordination are treated as essential tools rather than administrative formalities.
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AP Cyber Guard and New War Room Architecture
During the meeting, Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta outlined the proposed AP Cyber Guard initiative, which is being built around a six pillar response system. According to the presentation, the framework will include a Cyber War Room, a 1930 Call Centre dashboard, technology and AI integration, capacity building, a three tier architecture and public awareness programmes.
A state level Cyber War Room is being established at Prabhala Tech Park in Mangalagiri, for which a building has already been identified. The facility, the DGP said, will have 11 specialised divisions, including Emergency Response, Cyber Threat Intelligence and Analytics, Cyber Security Operations, Cyber Training and Awareness Research, Legal and Policy Compliance, and District Coordination.
Gupta said the war room would become operational within the next 30 days with advanced facilities. He also said the existing 1930 cyber helpline would be strengthened through an integrated dashboard linked to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and the helpline system. Police, he added, are putting systems in place to contact banks within 10 minutes of receiving a complaint and freeze funds in suspect accounts. The state is also working with the RBI and leading banks to implement MuleHunter.AI for improved cyber fraud detection through technology and artificial intelligence.
Training, District Units and Crackdown on Digital Arrest Frauds
As part of capacity building, around 500 police officers will receive cybercrime training within a year. A three tier architecture will be established with cyber units across 28 districts and four regional hubs. Officials said 3,000 awareness programmes are planned annually across multiple platforms and levels.
The DGP also said teams from AP CID and APTS had visited the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre in New Delhi to study its systems and best practices. Based on those learnings, the state is designing a Cyber Fusion Centre. Agreements will also be signed with banks for 30 minute service level response timelines and the appointment of nodal officers, while CCS police stations will be upgraded into specialised investigation units.
Naidu said Andhra Pradesh must aim to become a cybercrime free state and that banks, the police department, APTS and finance related agencies must work in close coordination as cybercriminal methods continue to evolve. He singled out digital arrest scams as a growing threat, saying even educated individuals are falling victim. The Chief Minister said people must understand there is no such thing as a digital arrest and that those making fraudulent calls in its name should themselves be arrested. He added that cyber criminals must be dealt with very strictly and that police action and investigations must create fear among offenders.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
