Punjab Police Intensifies Fight Against Cybercrime, Busts Organised Fraud Networks & Makes 729 Arrests in a year
Punjab Police Has Made Remarkable Progress in Tackling Cybercrime Over Last 4 Years: DGP Gaurav Yadav
CHANDIGARH, July 4 (WISHAVWARTA);- The Punjab Police has significantly strengthened its cybercrime response by expanding its cyber defence network across the state. With dedicated Cyber Crime Police Stations functioning in every district and commissionerate of police for the last two years, the force has intensified its action against online fraud and cybercriminals by making 729 arrests in the last one year.
In a little over one year, the Punjab Police, including the State Cyber Crime Division, has registered 956 FIRs across 29 Cyber Crime Police Stations and arrested 729 accused involved in different cyber fraud cases, helping protect people from losing their hard-earned money.
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said that the State Cyber Crime Division has made remarkable progress over the last four years in tackling cybercrime and protecting innocent citizens. Alongside strict enforcement, Punjab Police has also focused on prevention by conducting nearly 657 Citizen Awareness Programmes across the state to educate people about online frauds and scams and encourage them to report incidents immediately by calling 1930. He said the Punjab Police will continue its commitment to protecting residents from cybercrime through strong enforcement and public awareness.
Since May 2025, the State Cyber Crime Division, headed by Special DGP V. Neeraja, has registered 57 FIRs and arrested 56 accused involved in high-profile and technology-intensive cybercrime cases.
Meanwhile, the Cyber Crime Police Stations (CCPSs) functioning under Commissioners of Police and Senior Superintendents of Police have arrested 673 accused in various cyber fraud cases across the state. Among them, Malerkotla CCPS arrested 32 accused in 41 cases; Ludhiana Commissionerate Police arrested 181 accused 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 arrested 23 accused in 44 cases; Patiala CCPS made nearly 40 arrests and registered 74 FIRs; and Kapurthala CCPS registered 26 FIRs and arrested 47 accused.
The State Cyber Crime Division has also achieved success in cracking organised cybercrime networks. Earlier this year, it investigated cases of cyber slavery involving victims who were rescued from scam compounds in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries. The investigation revealed that the victims had been sent abroad by travel agents, placement consultants, recruiting intermediaries and their associates operating from different states, leading to the arrest of one accused.
In another major operation targeting mule account networks, the State Cyber Crime Division arrested three accused for facilitating the opening and supply of bank accounts used in online financial fraud. Police recovered 23 ATM cards, two laptops, seven mobile phones, five SIM cards, forged bank and KYC documents including 14 cheque books and Udyam certificates, six stamps, cryptocurrency valued at 5,100 USDT, and ₹20 lakh lying in bank accounts. Since May 2025, the Cyber Crime Police Stations across the state have also registered 9 FIRs and busted 5 mule account modules.
In Kapurthala, the police also unearthed a fraudulent call centre where the accused allegedly targeted residents of the United States and Canada and induced them to transfer money through Bitcoin (BTC) and hawala channels.
