The digital transformation in India has significantly altered trends in communication, governance, and commerce. With more than 850 million internet users across the country, India hosts one of the biggest populations of netizens.
However, the extensive internet exposure makes India vulnerable to cyber fraud and crimes as well. Phishing crimes and identity theft are quite common here. Recently, the rate of ransomwares and crypto fraud has also increased. The bottom line is that the cyber threat landscape is evolving at a pace.
In response, India’s law code and cybercrime lawyers are contributing profusely in safeguarding people and companies from incumbent digital threats.
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The Rise of Cyber Crime in India
Cybercrime has experienced a significant increase in recent years. According to the data provided by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (14C), around 20 lakh cybercrime complaints have been filed in FY 2024, surpassing the count of 15.6 lakh in 2023.
The fiscal losses owing to failed Online fraud protection in 2024 reached a staggering INR 22,842. By the end of 2025, the figures are expected to reach INR 1.2 lac crores.
Phishing crimes are most common in India. Next in rise is digital arrest fraud. Then, there are investment scams and identity theft. In 2024, the investment scams resulted in losses of more than INR 3,216 crores. Meanwhile, the clone trading apps extracted around INR 1420 crores.
The digital arrest scams that have been on the rise in 2025 skimmed around INR 1,616 crores last year. By the end of 2025, the figures could see a massive surge.
States such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana have experienced the most significant fiscal impact. Tamil Nadu leads the scene with losses of more than INR 1,100 crores. The bottom line is that India needs an immediate framework of legal tech and high-tech defense against Cybercrime in India. A legal template to seek resolution against such crimes has been due for a long time.
Real Instances: Cyber Crime in Action
Several instances clearly illustrate the seriousness of cybercrime growth in India. We will start with an instance from West Bengal:
First Thrilling Case of Digital Arrest in West Bengal, 2025
In a landmark judgment, a court in West Bengal sentenced 9 people to life imprisonment. They were accused of defrauding a retired civil servant of INR 1 crore through a digital arrest scenario.
The impostors posing as Mumbai Police representatives coerced the victim into eventually paying INR 1 crore. They set the pretext of a country-wide money laundering investigation. The calls were traced back to Cambodia; however, Indian SIM cards were used in the process.
The accused underwent trials for several allegations under various provisions of law. The most significant of them being the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the IT Act 2000. The most serious charges against them were forgery, conspiracy, identity theft, breach of trust, and impersonation.
The case is not the first of its kind in India. However, it marks the first conviction in a digital arrest scam. This case establishes a precedent for similar cases in India and demonstrates how the Indian judiciary is evolving to take decisive stances against such Cybercrime in India.
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Hyderabad’s cyber network crime – a Forgery of more than INR 6.94 crores
In October 2024, the Hyderabad Police dismantled a large cybercrime racket comprising 18 individuals. Jointly, they siphoned around INR 6.94 crores through multiple activities nationwide.
They usually operated in Telangana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The common trait of their crime was posing as officials from Indian insurance companies. Police finally seized several bank accounts as well as digital assets under their name or linked to them.
This case highlights the versatility of cybercrimes. Criminals use congenial channels to approach and persuade people and prompt them into giving money. This group employed several techniques, of which social engineering, impersonation, and financial manipulation are the most deadly.
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How does the Indian Legal Framework tackle Cyber Crime?
The Cyber fraud laws of India are covered under the Information Technology Act of 2000, amended in 2008. This and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code have been incorporated under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
What are the primary provisions under the Indian IT Act?
This is a comprehensive overview of several laws in India that directly address Cybercrime in India. For instance, sections 65, 66, and 66C are most prominent. Section 65 deals with tampering using computer resources and allied documents.
The following section is related to hacking and any kind of unauthorized access. Meanwhile, section 66C deals with identity theft. Sections 66D and 66F tackle cheating by impersonation and cyber terrorism, respectively.
The provisions under IPC and BNS
The IPC, now known as the BNS, also includes serious provisions for various niches of cybercrime. For instance, Section 318 of the BNS deals with cheating and fraud-related cases. Similarly, section 356 handles criminal defamation, and section 507 is for criminal intimidation using anonymous communication.
What Role Do Cybercrime Lawyers Play in India?
Indian lawyers meticulously navigate the legal landscape and deliver in-depth legal discourse, distinguishing specific legal crimes committed across India.
Some of the key roles they play include litigation, compliance management, advisory services, and digital forensics. Their pivotal role is to represent clients in court and ensure the appropriate documentation of digital evidence. Furthermore, they liaise with the cyber cells and other law enforcement agencies. Meanwhile, the lawyers also assist victims in filing complaints through nationwide platforms, such as CyberCrime Reporting portals.
Cybercrime Lawyers also help businesses establish the right compliance framework and align with data protection laws to avoid abrupt data breaches. In the landmark case of Shreya Singhal vs. Union of India, lawyers played a crucial role in demonstrating intermediary liability and upholding free speech jurisprudence.
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Indian Government’s Initiatives to Curb Cyber Crime in India
The Indian government has launched numerous initiatives to enhance the framework of Digital Security India, in addition to strengthening law enforcement capabilities. The most effective initiative is the Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre. This centre receives real-time fraud updates and plays a key role in inter-agency coordination.
Next, there is the Samanvaya platform, which handles joint cybercrime investigation procedures. Meanwhile, the cyber commandos program by the Indian government is a key initiative that trains personnel across different states to identify and neutralize digital threats. The other effective instruments devised by the Indian government are:
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Suspect Registry |
A centralized database for all cybercrime suspects |
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Chakshu and Sanchar Saathi Portals |
Tools that allow citizens to report suspicious calls and messages |
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CERT-in |
National incident response and advisory body |
Primary Challenges in Enforcement and Legal Redressal
Despite the considerable efforts in recent times, there are key challenges that require immediate attention. The primary issues are jurisdictional concerns, inadequate digital evidence, and a shortage of qualified personnel in fraud handling. These crucial gaps hinder the effective implementation of cybercrime enforcement.
However, cybercrime lawyers play a distinctive role in ensuring the right documentation, advising victims, and initiating legal procedures to advocate for more effective enforcement mechanisms.
Steps You Can Take to Protect Yourself Legally and Digitally
Usually, cybercrime lawyers advise individuals to use strong passwords and always choose two-factor authentication across the digital instruments they use. Whether you are using an app, website, or an IoT device, the same guidelines apply.
You can also report any kind of cyber fraud immediately on cybercrime.gov.in. Alternatively, you can also call the helpline number 1930. All businesses must conduct regular audits, train their employees, and undergo legal consultation from top-tier law firms operating in your area.
Choose someone with a versatile knowledge of Indian law and experience of working within the cybercrime jurisprudence. Vidhikaryaa is one of the frontline legal agencies with years of experience handling cybercrime cases. The firm hails from Kolkata and has banked some enigmatic cases to back up the profile.
If you are a business, you can directly consult them for consultancy, guidance, and representation in court. If you want to avoid cybercrime, ensure compliance with all government cybercrime prevention guidelines.
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Be Aware and Act Before It’s Too Late
The rate of cybercrimes in India is increasing by leaps and bounds. However, the response mechanism and instruments to avoid and tackle cyber crimes are also evolving. The Cyber Crime in India laws are evolving.
Every individual in the C-suite roles or admins, for that matter, should be aware of the changes in cybercrime guidelines for companies in India. Whether you are a start-up or a large enterprise, you have to recruit a genuine legal representative to keep you posted on the latest rules or devise a roadmap in case you encounter cyber fraud.
The cybercrime lawyers are not typical legal experts in the field. They act as your counsellors and help safeguard your legal rights against the fraudsters. An experienced lawyer will help you navigate the complex legal framework for such crimes easily. Choose your lawyer today!
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