Punjab Police intensifies campaign against cyber crime, fraud network busted, 729 arrests in one year

Punjab Police: Punjab Police has given new impetus to action against cyber crime by further strengthening its cyber security network across the state. With special cyber crime police stations set up in every district and police commissionerate during the last two years, the police force has launched an effective campaign against online fraud and cyber criminals. As a result, 729 accused have been arrested in the last one year.

During the last one year, Punjab Police and State Cyber ​​Crime Division registered a total of 956 FIRs in 29 cyber crime police stations of the state and arrested 729 accused in various cyber fraud cases. These actions saved a large number of citizens from losing their hard-earned money to cyber fraudsters.

Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said that the State Cyber ​​Crime Division has achieved remarkable success in the last four years in the fight against cyber crime and ensuring the safety of innocent citizens. He said that along with strict legal action, Punjab Police has also laid equal emphasis on prevention and public awareness.

For this purpose, about 657 citizen awareness programs were organized across the state, through which people were made aware about various methods of online fraud, digital fraud and cyber crime. Also, citizens were appealed to immediately lodge a complaint on National Cyber ​​Helpline number 1930 in case of any cyber fraud. He said that Punjab Police will continue its commitment to protect the public from cyber crimes through vigorous law enforcement and greater public awareness.

Since May 2025, the State Cyber ​​Crime Division under the leadership of Special DGP V. Neerja has registered 57 cases related to technology-based and high-level cyber crimes and arrested 56 accused.

During the same period, Cyber ​​Crime Police Stations (CCPS) established under Police Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) arrested 673 accused in various cyber fraud cases across the state. These included Malerkotla CCPS arrested 32 accused in 41 cases, Ludhiana Police Commissionerate made 181 arrests in 86 cases, SAS Nagar CCPS arrested 57 accused in 52 cases, Khanna Cyber Crime Police Station arrested 74 accused in 31 FIRs, Pathankot CCPS made 23 arrests in 44 cases, Patiala CCPS registered 74 FIRs and arrested about 40 accused and Kapurthala CCPS registered 26 FIRs and arrested 47 accused.

The State Cyber ​​Crime Division has also achieved significant success in busting organized cyber crime networks. Earlier this year, the division investigated cases involving Indian nationals rescued from cyber scam compounds based in Cambodia and other countries in South-East Asia. Investigation revealed that the victims were sent abroad by travel agents, placement consultants, recruitment agents and their associates operating in different states. An accused has also been arrested in this case.

In another major action, the State Cyber ​​Crime Division busted the network of Mule Bank accounts used in online financial fraud and arrested three accused, who used to open and provide bank accounts to cyber criminals. Police recovered 23 ATM cards, two laptops, seven mobile phones, five SIM cards, fake bank and KYC documents, 14 check books, enterprise certificates, six rubber stamps, 5,100 USDT (cryptocurrency) and an amount of about Rs 20 lakh deposited in various bank accounts from their possession. From May 2025 till now, cyber crime police stations across the state have also busted five Mule account modules by registering nine FIRs.

Police in Kapurthala also unearthed a fake call center from where cyber fraud was being carried out targeting citizens of America and Canada. The accused induced victims to transfer funds through Bitcoin (BTC) and Hawala channels. This action is being considered an important success of Punjab Police against the international cyber fraud network.