BENGALURU: Karnataka has emerged as the second best performing state in the country in freezing money lost to cyber fraud, with police successfully blocking Rs 436 crore through bank lien marking mechanisms, Home Minister Priyank Kharge said on Friday.
Speaking after reviewing cybercrime response systems at the Police Wireless Headquarters on MG Road, Kharge said the state has intensified efforts to combat the growing threat of cybercrime through advanced technology, dedicated teams and improved public grievance mechanisms. Karnataka police managed to freeze Rs 436crore, accounting for 17 per cent of Rs 2,640crore reported lost to cyber fraud. Maharashtra topped the list by freezing Rs 548crore of Rs 3,203crore reported losses, also amounting to 17 per cent.
Between January and May 2026, the Police Wireless Unit received 10.33 lakh calls and registered 90,225 complaints. During the same period, people lost Rs 807crore to cyber fraud, of which Rs 216crore has already been blocked.
He added that Karnataka police have adopted several measures to accelerate cybercrime investigations and recovery of defrauded money. Dedicated bank follow-up teams have been formed to immediately initiate lien marking of suspicious transactions and coordinate with financial institutions. To strengthen cybercrime response, wireless personnel have been trained in cyber investigations, system administration and use of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) platform.
Special liaison officers have also been appointed to coordinate with banks, obtain CCTV footage, facilitate FIR registration and assist victims in recovering blocked funds. Additionally, 51 PSIs and Head Constables have been deployed on the I4C platform to expedite the blocking of fraudulent bank transactions.
The minister highlighted a series of technology-driven reforms introduced by the department. These include a web-based complaint bot launched in 2025, a WhatsApp complaint bot introduced in 2026, which have significantly improved public access to cybercrime reporting and an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) that prioritises and routes complaints automatically. Automated complaint links are also sent to callers whose calls get disconnected.
Kharge said Karnataka has become a national leader in tackling cyber fraud and protecting citizens’ hard-earned money, while stressing the need to further modernise the police wireless communication system with advanced technology.
PRIYANK LISTS PRIORITY PLANS FOR FUTURE READY CITY
Bengaluru: Urban mobility, cyber safety and sustainable urban development are among the top priorities for the Karnataka government as it works towards making Bengaluru a future-ready global hub for technology, innovation and investment, said IT & BT and Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Friday.
Speaking at the Integrated Workspaces Forum, organised by CCiRE FM & CRE in partnership with Bhartiya Urban, Kharge said Bengaluru’s rapid growth requires long-term, technology-driven solutions to improve mobility, strengthen cyber resilience and build sustainable infrastructure. Kharge stressed the need for greater awareness, stronger resilience and coordinated efforts to tackle emerging digital threats.