According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, a startling increase in cybercrime cases has been reported across states and 19 metropolitan cities.
According to the NCRB report, cybercrime cases in states and union territories increased by 24.4%, reaching 65,893 in 2022, up from 52,974 in 2021. The primary motivation in 64.8% of these cases was fraud, followed by extortion and sexual exploitation.
Furthermore, the 19 metropolitan cities witnessed a staggering 42.7% spike in registered cybercrime cases, totaling 24,420 in 2022, significantly higher than the 17,115 cases reported in 2021. Computer-related offenses under Section 66 of the IT Act constituted 50.0% of the total cybercrime cases in 2022.
Bengaluru took the lead among metropolitan cities, recording 9,940 cybercrime cases in 2022, followed by Mumbai with 4,724 cases. Hyderabad and New Delhi followed closely, registering 4,436 and 685 cases, respectively.
In addition to cybercrime, the NCRB report highlighted an 8.6% increase in cases involving offenses against the state, reaching a total of 5,610 cases in 2022. The majority of these cases, 78.5%, were registered under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, with 17.9% under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Contrarily, the overall crimes registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL) saw a decline of 4.5% from 2021, totaling 58,24,946 cognizable crimes in 2022. The report indicated a decline in the crime rate per lakh population from 445.9 in 2021 to 422.2 in 2022.
Crimes registered in the 19 metropolitan cities decreased by 10.4% from 2021 to 2022, totaling 8,53,470 cognizable crimes. The majority of IPC cases involved theft, followed by rash driving on public roads and disobeying orders issued by public servants.
The report also detailed arrest, charge-sheeting, conviction, acquittal, and discharge statistics, emphasizing the magnitude and complexity of addressing and managing criminal activity in these regions.