Amit Shah Launches e-Zero FIR To Nab Cyber Criminals With ‘Unprecedented Speed’; Pilot Project Begins In Delhi

On Monday (19 May), the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) launched the e-Zero FIR (First Information Report) initiative under the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to nab any criminal with 'unprecedented speed.' 

Home Minister Amit Shah shared that this initiative, launched as a pilot project for Delhi, will automatically convert cyber financial crimes filed at NCRP (National Cybercrime Reporting Portal) or 1930 to FIRs, initially above the threshold limit of Rs 10 lakh.

"The new system, which will drive investigations swiftly cracking down on cybercriminals, will soon be extended to the entire nation. The Modi government is bolstering the cybersecurity grid to build a cyber-secure Bharat," be posted on X.

The initiative comes after Shah, in a recent review meeting of I4C instructed officials to address the difficulties faced by victims of cyber financial crimes in recovery of the money lost.

The home secretary stated that the Modi administration is strengthening the cyber security network in order to create a cyber-protected India, The New Indian Express reported.

The newly introduced process involves the integration of I4C’s NCRP system, Delhi Police’s e-FIR system and the National Crime Record Bureau’s (NCRB) Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS).

After complaints of financial losses above the threshold limit of Rs 10 lakh are automatically registered as zero FIR, they will be immediately routed to the territorial cybercrime police stations and the complainants can visit the cybercrime police station within three days and get the zero FIR converted into a regular FIR.

"Delhi Police and Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), MHA have worked together to put in place a process for registration of cases in accordance with the new provisions of Section 173 (1) and 1(ii) of Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)," the press release said.

"This initiative will improve the conversion of NCRP/1930 complaints into FIRs enabling easy restoration of money lost by victims and facilitate punitive action against cyber criminals. It leverages the provisions of the recently introduced new criminal laws," it added.