The Punjab & Haryana High Court has given a directive to the Punjab Government to provide a detailed report on the handling of complaints related to cyber crimes and the status of unresolved complaints where no FIR has been filed. This decision was made by Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu during the hearing of a petition filed by a retired Government officer from the Punjab Health Department, who was a victim of a cyber financial scam.
The petitioner alleged that he had fallen prey to scammers operating through the ‘Secret Escapes’ Telegram group, who had lured him into making substantial financial investments with false promises of high returns. Despite lodging multiple complaints and providing evidence to the Cyber Police, no FIR had been registered, and no action had been taken to investigate or recover the lost money.
The plea highlighted the petitioner’s frustration with the lack of response from the authorities, despite providing detailed information such as UT numbers, bank transfers, and personal details of the main scammer. The petitioner had also formally requested the registration of an FIR, but to no avail. It was emphasized that under the BNSS, a complaint can be filed anywhere or through WhatsApp (Zero FIR), and the concerned Police station is then responsible for the investigation.
Furthermore, the plea pointed out that the law clearly stipulated the registration of an FIR after a 14-day probe, failing which the DCP could take action against the concerned officers. However, no FIR had been registered against the criminals involved in the scam, who were still at large.
In the previous hearing, the Court had instructed the Punjab Government to provide a detailed list of Cyber Police Stations in the state, along with the number of cyber complaints received and pending cyber FIRs for investigation. The matter has been scheduled for further consideration on February 17.
The case of Dr. Karamjit Singh vs. State of Punjab and Ors. was represented by Ms. Simrat Kaur, Advocate for Mr. Anmol Jeevan S. Mann, Advocate for the petitioner, and Mr. Kunwarbir Singh, AAG, Punjab, assisted by Inspector Tarandeep Kaur from Cyber Crime Patiala.
The High Court’s intervention in this matter reflects a growing concern over the handling of cyber crimes and the need for a robust mechanism to address such cases promptly and effectively. It serves as a reminder to the authorities to take proactive steps in combating cyber fraud and ensuring justice for the victims of such crimes.