CBI Launches AI Chatbot ‘Abhay’ to Help Public Verify Notices and Counter Digital Arrest Scams – Obnews

India’s Central Bureau of Investigation is set to introduce a new artificial intelligence powered chatbot designed to help citizens verify the authenticity of official notices and protect themselves from growing digital arrest scams. The chatbot, named Abhay, will be formally launched by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during the 22nd D P Kohli Memorial Lecture organized by the agency in tribute to its founding director.

The new digital tool aims to address a rising trend in cyber fraud cases where scammers impersonate CBI officials and send fake notices to victims. In several reported incidents, fraudsters have used fabricated documents linked to non existent investigations to intimidate individuals and falsely claim they were under digital arrest. Victims were pressured into transferring large sums of money, sometimes amounting to crores of rupees, under the threat of legal action.

According to a CBI spokesperson, the Abhay chatbot will allow members of the public to check whether a notice claiming to be issued by the agency is genuine. Officials say the platform is expected to provide citizens with a simple and reliable verification method at a time when cyber criminals are increasingly exploiting fear and confusion through sophisticated impersonation tactics.

The launch of the chatbot comes amid growing concern about the scale of cyber crime across India. The Supreme Court recently highlighted that approximately Rs 54,000 crore has been siphoned off through various cyber fraud schemes and described the situation as comparable to robbery or dacoity. Authorities believe improved verification tools and stronger public awareness are essential to counter these threats effectively.

The announcement will take place during the D P Kohli Memorial Lecture, an annual event organized since 2000 that focuses on issues related to policing, criminal justice and investigative challenges. This year’s lecture by Chief Justice Surya Kant will examine the role of the police and judiciary in addressing cyber crime. The event will also include the presentation of 24 medals recognizing meritorious service. D P Kohli, born in 1907 in Uttar Pradesh, served as the founding director of the CBI after previously leading the Delhi Special Police Establishment and played a key role in shaping India’s central investigative framework.