Maharashtra records 10,505 cyber fraud cases in over a year; 2,379 accused arrested: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the state Assembly that the state registered 10,505 cyber financial fraud cases between January 2025 and May 2026, with 2,379 accused arrested during the period.

In a written reply, Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, said cybercrime cases involving digital arrest scams, online investment frauds, phishing links, fake APK files and other financial scams have shown a sharp rise across the state.

He said Ahilyanagar district alone recorded 5,141 complaints in 2025, resulting in losses of Rs 37.76 crore, while transactions worth Rs 7.02 crore were successfully frozen. Several victims, including senior citizens, were targeted through “digital arrest” intimidation tactics.

The Chief Minister cited multiple cases, including a retired government employee from Kopargaon who was cheated of Rs 87.3 lakh, and a Navi Mumbai resident who lost Rs 1.54 crore in a similar scam. He said arrests have been made in both cases and charge sheets filed.

Mumbai recorded 4,825 cyber fraud cases in 2025, with losses exceeding Rs 1,031 crore, while Pune reported 536 cases involving nearly Rs 200 crore in losses in the first five months of 2026. Nagpur also reported 136 cases during the same period.

Fadnavis said the state has strengthened its cyber security infrastructure through the Maharashtra Cyber Security Project at Mahape in Navi Mumbai, along with 50 district cyber labs and specialised police units. He added that the Maharashtra Cyber office now functions under the DGP for better coordination.

The government is also running awareness campaigns through social media platforms, helplines such as 1930, and digital screens at railway stations, along with the #CyberSafeMumbai initiative to educate citizens about online fraud risks.