Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: Insufficient evidence led to the closure of nearly 18% of cybercrime cases over the previous five and a half years, especially in complaints involving financial fraud.
Since 2019, there has been an alarming increase in cybercrime in Goa, with almost 150 cases reported overall. Many of the offences registered under the Information Technology Act are directed towards women and minors, even though the majority are related to financial fraud.
In response to an unstarred question, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant submitted details indicating that approximately 27% of all cases are still pending trial and that no convictions or acquittals have occurred during this time.
On the House floor, Sawant disclosed that the Cyber Crime Cell had 10 cases in 2019, 24 in 2020, 20 in 2021, and 51 in 2022, respectively. There were 32 cases in 2023, and 31 cases were registered between January 1 and June 15, 2024, suggesting that there may be an increase this year.
Of the total cases, there are 40 cases that are awaiting trial, 98 cases that are under investigation, and 27 cases that have A-summary reports filed.
The information also shows that three financial fraud cases worth more than Rs 1 crore have been reported this year, and losses in several other cases range from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 90 lakh.
