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Taking a firm stand against the rising incidence of cybercrime, Madhya Pradesh has implemented the e-Zero FIR system. Under this mechanism, victims of cyber financial fraud involving amounts exceeding ₹1 lakh can now register complaints online from any part of the country. The system came into effect on December 25, making Madhya Pradesh the second state after Delhi to introduce e-Zero FIRs for cyber offences.
Police officials said the e-Zero FIR system has been given legal recognition under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Its biggest advantage is that victims no longer have to worry about the jurisdiction of the police station where the crime occurred. Once a complaint is lodged through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) or the 1930 helpline, it is automatically forwarded to the concerned police station for further action.
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100 e-Zero FIRs forwarded since launch
According to the state cyber crime cell, since the launch of the system, around 100 e-Zero FIRs have been forwarded to police stations across different districts for registration of regular FIRs. Officials acknowledged that the actual number of complaints received is much higher, but in every case immediate relief measures were initiated even before formal FIR registration.
A senior officer said, “In cases where FIRs could not be formally registered immediately, swift action was still taken, including blocking fraudulent bank accounts, freezing suspicious transactions, and securing the digital trail.”
Relief for victims, added pressure on police
Police officials believe the new system will bring significant relief to victims of cyber fraud. They will no longer be required to make repeated visits to police stations—a delay that often weakened the chances of recovery.
However, officials also admitted that the e-Zero FIR mechanism will increase the investigative burden on the police, especially as no additional manpower or resources have been provided so far.
“The system is beneficial for the public, but the pressure on investigating agencies will certainly rise. At present, it is still in an evolving phase,” an officer said.
Investigation powers for officers below inspector rank?
At present, cybercrime investigations can be conducted only by inspectors or officers of higher rank. But given the growing volume of cases, a proposal is under consideration at the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to allow sub-inspectors and above to investigate cybercrime cases.
An official explained, “Sub-inspectors are available in much larger numbers. Granting them investigation powers would significantly address the manpower shortage.”
Expert view: Early FIR is decisive in cyber fraud
Former IPS officer and noted cybercrime expert Triveni Singh said the e-Zero FIR framework addresses a major structural gap in India’s cybercrime response—delay in FIR registration.
“In cyber financial fraud, the first 30 minutes to one hour determine whether the money can be traced or is lost forever. Earlier, victims wasted crucial time moving from one police station to another over jurisdiction issues,” he said.
According to Singh, giving legal backing to digital Zero FIRs allows policing procedures to operate at the same speed at which cybercrime actually occurs. “Immediate FIRs enable timely directions to banks, telecom companies and digital platforms. This not only improves recovery chances but also prevents accused persons from destroying digital evidence.”
Focus on inter-state coordination
Given the nature of cybercrime—where offenders often operate from other states—the police are working to strengthen inter-state coordination. Officials said better coordination would reduce the need for physical raids, save time and resources, and help investigators reach offenders faster.
Police view: ‘Speed is the biggest weapon’
Police officials said the e-Zero FIR system would bring a decisive shift in the fight against cybercrime. According to them, victims will no longer need to worry about where to register an FIR—a single call to 1930 or an online complaint will be enough to initiate the process.
Officials stressed that time is the most critical factor in cybercrime cases. “Fraud happens within minutes, so the police response must be equally swift. With e-Zero FIRs, issuing legal notices to banks, obtaining CCTV footage and accessing call detail records will become immediately possible.”
Police believe that in the coming months, the e-Zero FIR system will not only improve recovery rates but also tighten the legal noose around cyber fraudsters.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
