CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh UT cyber police have registered 257 FIRs related to online frauds involving more than ₹95 crore between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2025. Despite arresting 200 accused during this period, the police managed to recover only slightly over ₹15 crore. This disparity highlights the mounting difficulty of tracking and retrieving stolen funds in cybercrime cases.
According to cybercrime officials, the low recovery rate stems mainly from two critical issues: delayed reporting by victims and the strategic dispersion of funds into multiple fake accounts. Cyber fraud victims often report their cases after a delay of 24 to 72 hours, by which time the money is typically moved and withdrawn, making it challenging for investigators to intercept.
Cyber expert Gurcharan Singh stressed the importance of quick action, noting that early complaints increase the likelihood of freezing or recovering the stolen amounts. He explained that fraudsters use a chain of fake accounts to mask the money trail, effectively eluding timely police intervention.
Complaints on the Rise, Staff Shortages Plague Cyber Cell
An RTI filed by R.K. Garg, president of the Second Innings Association, revealed systemic limitations within the cyber police force, including inadequate staffing, outdated tools, and insufficient technical expertise. Garg also highlighted the delays victims face in receiving their recovered funds, attributing this to complex banking procedures and bureaucratic hurdles.
The cyber cell receives between 500 and 850 complaints monthly, totalling roughly 21,000 over the last two years. Monthly financial losses varied from ₹1 crore to ₹6.5 crore, with investment scams and digital arrest frauds among the most common.
The most distressing cases involved retired army officers. Colonel Dalip Singh Bajwa (82) and his wife Ranvinder Kaur Bajwa (74) were cheated of ₹3.41 crore. In another incident, Colonel Harmohinder Singh Puri transferred ₹36 lakh to avoid a falsely alleged arrest.
Call for Special Cyber Courts and Prosecutors
Cyber experts and victims have called for dedicated cyber courts and special prosecutors to handle such cases efficiently. While acknowledging ongoing awareness campaigns and seminars conducted by the police, stakeholders urged immediate reforms to improve prevention and justice delivery.