Maharashtra records 10,505 cyber fraud cases in 17 months; 2,379 accused arrested: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra has registered 10505 cyber financial fraud cases between January 2025 and May 2026 leading to the arrest of 2379 accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the state Legislative Assembly on TuesdayIn a written reply to a question raised by several members Fadnavis who also holds the Home portfolio said Ahilyanagar district recorded 5141 complaints in 2025 involving digital arrest scams share trading frauds hotel rating scams and malicious APK and PDF files resulting in losses of Rs 3776 crore reported PTIOf the total amount involved transactions worth Rs 702 crore were put on hold he saidAhilyanagar victim loses Rs 87 lakh in digital arrest scamFadnavis said a retired government employee from Kopargaon in Ahilyanagar district was duped of Rs 873 lakh after being threatened with a digital arrestOne accused has been arrested and a chargesheet was filed on April 29 Of the defrauded amount Rs 4218 lakh has been returned to the complainant following court orders while legal proceedings are underway to recover the remaining funds reported PTINavi Mumbai resident cheated of Rs 154 croreIn another case a 62yearold resident of Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai was allegedly cheated of Rs 154 crore in a digital arrest scamFour accused have been arrested in the case Three are currently out on bail while one remains in judicial custody A chargesheet was filed on June 9 according to the written replyPune Mumbai and Nagpur report major lossesFadnavis said 30 cases involving cyber fraud against senior citizens were registered in Nagpur city between January and May 2026 reported PTIPune city recorded 536 cyber financial fraud cases involving losses of Rs 200 crore during the first five months of 2026 Additionally 17 cases linked to fake messages links and APK files sent in the name of Maharashtra Natural Gas Ltd MNGL resulted in losses of Rs 88 lakhAccording to the reply Mumbai recorded 4825 cyber financial fraud cases in 2025 with 1410 accused arrested The total fraud amount stood at Rs 1031 crore of which transactions worth Rs 110 crore were frozenNagpur city registered 136 cyber financial fraud cases in 2025 and arrested 83 accused The total fraud amount was Rs 82 crore with Rs 3 crore being put on holdMaharashtra strengthens cybercrime infrastructureThe chief minister said the Maharashtra Cyber Security Project has been operationalised at Mahape in Navi Mumbai with a focus on protecting women children and senior citizens from cyber fraudHe said 50 district cyber labs and police stations have been equipped with modern infrastructure to investigate technologically complex crimes Personnel are also being provided online training in forensic toolsThe Maharashtra Cyber office has been brought directly under the Director General of Police DGP to improve its effectiveness and reach Fadnavis addedAwareness campaigns planned across the stateFadnavis said the government will launch a statewide cyber awareness campaign through WhatsApp and continue encouraging citizens to report cyber offences through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and the helpline number 1930Cyber advisories and awareness graphics are being disseminated through X Instagram Facebook and YouTube Cyber safety videos are also being displayed on 590 digital screens installed at 34 major railway stations across 23 districtsThe Mumbai Police are conducting awareness programmes under the CyberSafeMumbai campaign with the participation of noted artists sportspersons and actors the reply addedWith PTI inputs