Cybercrime in Maharashtra is rising during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the detection and conviction rate is one of the significant issues. Reportedly, the state has not completed a single trial of these cases since 2020 until August this year.
As per reports, cybercrime has increased from 4,822 cases in 2019 to 5,458 cases in 2020; however, in both, the years' detention rate remained at 18%. This is a major drop compared to 2018 when the detention per cent was 32.8.
The conviction rate in the past several years, from 2015 to 2020, only 5,513 cases were detected (i.e. 25%), out of the total 21,970 cases that were registered.
Out of the detected cases till 2020, trials are completed of only 382 cases while the rest of them are under investigation or pending before the court.
Also read: State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh Shares Details Of The Proposed Cyber Crime Security Project
According to the reports, of the 382 cases whose trials are completed, the accused were convicted in 26% of cases (99 cases) and acquitted in 283 cases (74%).
A cybercrime lawyer, Advocate Prashant Mali, in the Bombay High Court has suggested using Lok Adalat as it will speed up the disposal of cases.
He also added that the Ministry of Home Affairs should implement an initiative wherein the cyber fraud victim can call and freeze their bank account where their money is transferred by the criminal.
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