Odisha Loses ₹125 Crore to Cybercrime in Three Years; Only ₹2.52 Crore Recovered

Bhubaneswar: Odisha recorded a staggering loss of ₹125.63 crore to cyber fraud between 2021 and 2023, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the Assembly on Monday. The revelation came in response to a query by BJD MLA Prasanta Behera, highlighting the growing menace of cybercrime in the state.

Chief Minister Majhi detailed that a total of 6,368 cybercrime cases were registered during this period, leading to the arrest of 1,388 cybercriminals. However, despite the significant losses, only ₹2.52 crore was recovered and returned to victims.

Yearly Breakdown of Cybercrime in Odisha

• 2021:
  • Cases Registered: 2,037
  • Arrests Made: 425
  • Financial Loss: ₹40.39 crore
  • Amount Recovered: ₹27.56 lakh
• 2022:
  • Cases Registered: 1,983
  • Arrests Made: 441
  • Financial Loss: ₹37.28 crore
  • Amount Recovered: ₹97.30 lakh
• 2023:
  • Cases Registered: 2,348
  • Arrests Made: 522
  • Financial Loss: ₹47.94 crore
  • Amount Recovered: ₹1.52 crore

The Chief Minister emphasized the alarming rise in cybercrimes, with financial losses escalating each year. Despite law enforcement efforts, including the arrest of perpetrators and partial recovery of stolen funds, the gap between losses and recoveries remains substantial.

The data underscores the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity measures and public awareness campaigns to protect citizens from falling prey to cyber fraud. Experts have also called for equipping law enforcement agencies with advanced technology to combat the sophisticated tactics employed by cybercriminals.

The Odisha government is expected to announce additional steps to address this growing threat and mitigate further financial losses for its citizens.