Cyber Security – CERTs, Policy, etc

E-Zero FIR to speed up action on Cyber Frauds

Prelims Only | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: Civil Service,Cyber Security

Why in the News?

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched a pilot project for the e-Zero FIR (First Information Report) system in Delhi to help police take faster action in high-value cyber financial frauds.

What is Zero FIR?

  • Purpose: Zero FIR allows any police station to register an FIR for a cognisable offence without assigning a regular FIR number initially.
  • No diary: Whereas FIRs have serial numbers assigned to them, zero FIRs are assigned the number ‘0’. Hence the name.

About the e-Zero FIR System:

  • Launch and Objective: The MHA has launched a pilot e-Zero FIR project in Delhi to speed up action in cyber financial frauds over ₹10 lakh.
  • System Developer: It has been developed by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the MHA.
  • How It Works: Victims can file complaints via the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) or by calling the 1930 helpline.
  • FIR Process: The e-Crime Police Station in Delhi registers the FIR digitally, which is then transferred electronically to the correct local police station.
  • Legal Basis: The project is implemented under Section 173(1) and 173(1)(ii) of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
  • Jurisdiction-Free Filing: Victims can report crimes without worrying about police station limits.
  • Digital Integration: The system connects the I4C’s NCRP, Delhi Police’s e-FIR portal, and NCRB’s CCTNS platform.

Key Features and Victim Support:

  • Automatic Registration: FIRs are automatically registered for cyber frauds involving over ₹10 lakh.
  • Anywhere Access: Victims can file from any location, ensuring jurisdiction-free access.
  • Fast FIR Transfer: FIRs are sent electronically to the appropriate police station for follow-up.
  • Mandatory Visit: Victims must visit a cybercrime police station within 3 days to convert the Zero FIR into a regular FIR.
  • Improved Recovery: Early registration improves the chances of recovering lost funds in time-sensitive fraud cases.
  • Simplified Process: The system makes legal action easier and more accessible for cybercrime victims.
[UPSC 2021] With reference to India, consider the following statements:

  1. Judicial custody means an accused is in the custody of the concerned magistrate and such an accused is locked up in a police station, not in jail.
  2. During judicial custody, the police officer in charge of the case is not allowed to interrogate the suspect without the approval of the court.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Option: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only * (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

 

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