Cybercriminals Loot Rs 107 Crore in 18 Months in Chhattisgarh, Just 3.36% Recovered : “Some victims are on the verge of suicide,” says BJP MLA

Raipur
Cybercriminals defrauded 1,301 people in Chhattisgarh of a staggering Rs 107.03 crore between January 2024 and June 2025, according to data shared in the Assembly. Of this, only Rs 3.69 crore—just 3.36%—has been recovered so far.

The figures were revealed by Home Minister Vijay Sharma in response to a question by BJP MLA from Raipur City, Sunil Kumar Soni. Expressing deep concern, Soni said, “The situation is alarming. Thousands are being cheated, and some victims are even moving towards suicide.”

As per district-wise data, Raipur reported the highest amount of fraud at Rs 47.57 crore, followed by Bilaspur with Rs 10.20 crore and Durg with Rs 9.65 crore. Soni contested the Raipur figure, stating, “The actual amount could be even higher. Are our police equipped to handle such crimes? You mentioned involvement of bank officials—has any action been taken against them?”

In response, Sharma said the state is working on empanelling cyber experts and has already implemented a Cyber Commando Scheme. Cyber police units in every district have received training.

Highlighting the steps taken to tackle cybercrime, the Home Department said one State Cyber Police Station and five Range Cyber Police Stations are operational. District-level cyber cells are also functional, and approvals for dedicated cyber police stations in some districts have been received. A Cyber Forensic Lab equipped with modern tools is operating from Police Headquarters in Raipur.

To build investigative capacity, officers are being trained in advanced topics such as the dark web and cryptocurrency through institutes like C-DAC and the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy. SIM cards and IMEI numbers linked to cybercrime are being blocked, and awareness campaigns are ongoing across districts.

Regarding financial recovery, the department said that the 24×7 Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) and National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) are enabling quick registration and action. Trained officers coordinate directly with bank nodal officers and payment gateways to freeze suspicious transactions. Refunds are processed per court orders. Between January 2024 and June 2025, Rs 3.69 crore has been refunded to victims.

Over 67,000 Complaints, Rs 791 Crore Stolen
Responding to a separate query by BJP MLA from Durg City, Gajendra Yadav, the Home Minister said 67,389 cyber fraud complaints have been registered on the NCRP, involving losses of approximately Rs 791 crore. Of these, 21,195 cases have been resolved, and 1,820 victims have received refunds.