Punjab Cybercrime Cases Surge 74% in 2024, Conviction Rate Remains Low
According to the National Crime Records Bureau’s 2024 annual report, Punjab experienced a significant 73.78% increase in registered cybercrime cases, rising from 511 in 2023 to 888 in 2024. Despite this sharp surge, the conviction rate remained critically low at just 20.8%, with charge sheets filed in only 48.1% of cases. The data highlights a substantial backlog in the judicial system, with 93.3% of cybercrime cases pending in courts. Fraud emerged as the primary motive, accounting for 605 cases, while other motives included anger, revenge, and sexual exploitation. Crimes against women were predominantly related to cyber pornography and stalking, while children faced risks primarily through online pornography. In terms of enforcement, 642 individuals were arrested in 2024, comprising 561 men and 81 women. The report underscores the growing challenge of digital safety in the region, noting that roughly half of all incidents involved the use of computers to commit crimes, including online banking and card fraud. This disparity between rising incident rates and low legal resolution points to systemic issues in handling cyber offenses.
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Punjab Cybercrime Cases Surge 74% in 2024, Conviction Rate Remains Low
According to the National Crime Records Bureau’s 2024 annual report, Punjab experienced a significant 73.78% increase in registered cybercrime cases, rising from 511 in 2023 to 888 in 2024. Despite this sharp surge, the conviction rate remained critically low at just 20.8%, with charge sheets filed in only 48.1% of cases. The data highlights a substantial backlog in the judicial system, with 93.3% of cybercrime cases pending in courts. Fraud emerged as the primary motive, accounting for 605 cases, while other motives included anger, revenge, and sexual exploitation. Crimes against women were predominantly related to cyber pornography and stalking, while children faced risks primarily through online pornography. In terms of enforcement, 642 individuals were arrested in 2024, comprising 561 men and 81 women. The report underscores the growing challenge of digital safety in the region, noting that roughly half of all incidents involved the use of computers to commit crimes, including online banking and card fraud. This disparity between rising incident rates and low legal resolution points to systemic issues in handling cyber offenses.
The Indian Express