Haryana sees sharp decline in fraud cases, arrests surge in 2025: CM Saini
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, March 17, 2026 — Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday said the state’s aggressive, technology-driven campaign against cybercrime is yielding measurable results, with a significant drop in fraud cases in 2025 even as arrests have surged, sending a strong deterrent message to offenders.
Replying to a query raised by MLA Aftab Ahmed during Question Hour in the ongoing Budget Session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, the Chief Minister revealed that cybercrime cases declined from 6,054 in 2024 to 5,000 in 2025 — a reduction of nearly 17 percent.
Fraud-related cases witnessed an even sharper fall, dropping from 9,804 to 6,324 during the same period, marking a decrease of around 36 percent.
Highlighting the government’s proactive approach, Saini said the police administration is working with “seriousness and promptness” to curb cyber offences, adding that the establishment of a dedicated cybercrime department has played a crucial role in strengthening enforcement.
At the same time, the state has intensified its crackdown on offenders. Arrests in cybercrime cases jumped from 5,156 in 2024 to 8,093 in 2025 — an increase of about 57 percent, reflecting stricter enforcement and improved tracking mechanisms.
The Chief Minister also pointed to the evolving nature of cyber fraud, particularly the rise of so-called “digital arrest” scams, where victims are manipulated into transferring money through multiple bank accounts. He said swift coordination between police and banks has enabled authorities to freeze defrauded funds quickly. The proportion of such funds successfully put on hold rose from 27 percent in 2024 to 40 percent in 2025.
In a major procedural reform, the government has implemented the Zero FIR system for cybercrime cases. Victims can now register complaints through the 1930 helpline, with cases automatically routed to the appropriate police station for immediate action.
To further streamline response efforts, 16 nodal officers from various banks have been deployed in the Cyber Crime Control Room, working closely with law enforcement agencies to freeze suspicious transactions until investigations are completed.
Looking ahead, Saini announced that three new cyber police stations will be set up in Gohana, Bahadurgarh and Sonipat as part of the 2026–27 Budget, aimed at bolstering the state’s capacity to tackle cyber offences.
Addressing concerns around vulnerable populations, the Chief Minister noted that people above 60 years of age are increasingly targeted in cyber frauds. To counter this, the government is considering introducing a dual OTP system for bank-linked transactions. Under the proposed mechanism, transaction verification codes would be sent to both the elderly individual and a designated family member, with completion possible only after both OTPs are entered — a move expected to significantly reduce instances of cyber fraud and “digital arrest” scams.