Bengaluru: In a landmark move against cybercrime and online fraud, the Karnataka government has launched the country’s first Cyber Command Center in Bengaluru. The initiative follows a directive from the Karnataka High Court urging the state to take stronger action against the growing menace of cyber fraud.
DIG Pranab Mohanty has been appointed to lead the command center, which has been structured into four specialized wings to strengthen cyber policing and ensure swift investigation.
Four Key Wings of the Cyber Command Center:
- Cyber Crime Wing – Handles complaints, registers cases, and investigates cyber fraud, financial scams, and hacking incidents.
- Cyber Security Wing – Tracks and prevents hacking of bank accounts, social media, and critical software systems.
- IDTU Wing (Information, Detection, Tracking Unit) – Focuses on tracing cybercriminals through IP addresses, geolocation, and data sourced from social media platforms.
- Training, Capacity Building & Awareness Wing – Provides advanced training for cyber officers, enhances technical skills, introduces new technologies, and runs public awareness programs for citizens and students.
Currently, Bengaluru alone has 45 cyber police stations, while district-level cases are supervised by SPs. Earlier, cyber policing was handled under the SCRV (Special Cybercrime Response Unit), which has now been upgraded into a full-fledged Information Security Wing under the new command center.
According to officials, Karnataka reported over 16,000 pending cybercrime cases, and the numbers continue to rise every day. The Cyber Command Center is expected to play a critical role in reducing this backlog, enhancing coordination, and ensuring faster resolution of digital crimes.
The initiative also aligns with the Karnataka Cyber Security Policy 2023, which emphasizes stronger data protection, preventive audits, and infrastructure security.
While the command center marks a historic step, the key question remains: will this new hub be able to curb cyber fraud effectively and bring relief to victims?
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