Need For Better Infrastructure to Fight Cyber Crime Stressed

Mumbai: The Mumbai police cyber crime cell is basking in glory, having been felicitated twice this year by the corporate sector. But the cyber cops have a long way to go. According to insiders, there is an urgent need for the state government to improve the infrastructure, increase trained manpower and make the cyber crime cell accessible to the common man.
The cell has received 36 cases since its inception in December last year, of which 25 were solved and eight persons arrested.

According to a senior IPS officer who requested anonymity the cell is still in its infancy. "It has only six officers and eight constables working on three to four computers, a scanner and a printer." It requires more staff since number of complainants are expected to increase five-fold in the coming months. The cell needs state-of-art hardware and software.

At present, the cell seeks support from the Internet industry, whose professionals are part of the technical advisory committee of Mumbai police. "The Internet professionals should impart dynamic training to policemen. In the technology field, what you learn today becomes obsolete tomorrow. It has to be an ongoing training programme," the IPRS officer stated.

One of the major problems faced by the cell is the inordinate delays in cracking a case. Said an Internet expert, who is closely associated with the cell: "If there is a complaint from a far flung suburb, the officers take almost 24 hours to co-ordinate with the technical advisory committee, reach the location and begin investigations. The loss of time may result in crucial electronic evidence being tampered or lost. We, therefore, need more cyber crime cells at zonal and police station level so that the work can be expedited immediately after a complaint is lodged."

According to the IT Act, a cyber crime can be investigated by an officer not less than an assistant commissioner of police (ACP). But the Mumbai cell does not have an ACP for a full-time cyber investigation job. "We seek help of any ACP at the division level or at the HQ to deal with cyber crime cases," an investigating officer said. "In fact, the ACP's role is merely to endorse investigations, which is actually done by inspectors and sub-inspectors."

According to police commissioner M.N. Singh, the cell would have a major role to play in the 21st century since cyber crime was an emerging phenomenon. Incidentally, Mumbai police is one of the few police forces in the country to have a dedicated cell for cyber crime. So far, the cell has registered five FIRs, but it is yet to file a charge sheet in the court. "I cannot tell you when the charge sheets will be filed. As far as developing infrastructure is concerned, the process will take some time," senior inspector I.M. Zahid of the cell said.

A major challenge before the cell is to make electronic evidence admissible in a court, said Flynn Remedios, member of the technical advisory committee. "One of the main problems is convincing the judiciary of evidence in digital format. The judiciary is used to seeing material objects such as firearms, choppers, blood stained clothes, etc. as evidence. The prosecution will have to work hard to explain the technical part of investigations."
Advocate Haresh Jagtiani, who has studied the IT Act said "There is a possibility that a magistrate hearing a cyber crime case will find it difficult to understand the technical aspects of the case. Such magistrates and even lawyers should be given special training on information technology. The business industry can generate a fund to facilitate such training.