Navi Mumbai residents fell victim to cyber fraud in a significant way in 2024, losing a whopping ₹440 crore to scammers. The annual crime statistics for the year, released on Monday, revealed that various police stations in Navi Mumbai reported cases of cyber fraud amounting to ₹150.97 crore. However, there was some hope amidst the losses as ₹41.32 crore was frozen and ₹6.92 crore was recovered and returned to the affected individuals. Additionally, cyber fraud cases totaling ₹296.71 crore were registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Platform (NCCRP) portal, with ₹27.53 crore being frozen.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Amit Kale acknowledged that detecting cyber fraud is a time-consuming process, exacerbated by jurisdictional limitations that hinder investigations. To combat this issue, authorities have been prioritizing the importance of raising awareness among residents to prevent them from falling prey to online scams. In an effort to educate the public, Navi Mumbai police conducted 422 awareness programs on cyber fraud throughout the year.
In terms of addressing cyber crimes, the police received 436 complaints related to cyber offenses, out of which 79 cases were successfully resolved. While this marked a slight improvement from the previous year’s 76 solved cases, there were a staggering 13,597 complaints registered on the NCCRP platform. Despite a marginal decrease in overall criminal cases registered in 2024, there was a notable 10.7% increase in the total number of police cases due to enhanced enforcement measures.
The year 2024 also saw positive developments in crime detection and conviction rates. Out of 7,369 crimes reported, the police managed to crack 5,677 cases, resulting in a detection rate of 77%, up from 74% in 2023. Moreover, the conviction rate rose to 45%, compared to 36% in the previous year. Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe attributed this increase in conviction rate to various factors, including the implementation of the Nelson system for case distribution, scientific aids in investigations, the Yatharth system for evidence collection, and the utilization of e-summons and the financial intelligence unit (FIU).
Notably, crimes against women witnessed a decline from 730 cases in 2023 to 626 cases in 2024. Particularly significant was the reduction in rape cases, which fell from 233 to 180, and harassment cases, which decreased from 212 to 152. Assistant Commissioner Kale highlighted this trend as a positive step in ensuring the safety and security of women in the city.
For the second consecutive year, the Navi Mumbai police commissionerate topped the Crime and Criminal Tracking Networks and Systems (CCTNS), a government initiative aimed at enhancing policing effectiveness through an integrated system. Commissioner Bharambe reiterated the commitment to creating a safe environment for all residents, particularly focusing on the protection of women and senior citizens who are considered vulnerable to crime. With ongoing efforts and initiatives in place, the authorities remain dedicated to combating cyber fraud and ensuring the overall safety and well-being of the community.