Pune leaves Mumbai behind in cyber crime

Pune leaves Mumbai behind in cyber crime

PUNE: The state has acquired the dubious distinction of topping the list for registration of over 900 cyber crime cases, the highest in 2013, statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 'Crime in India 2013' report has said.

Pune showed an increase of 27.6% in cyber crime cases in 2012 when compared to 2011 under the IT Act, 2000. It registered 97 cases, as against 40 by Mumbai, emerging among the six top cities.

However, cyber crime cases registered in Pune under the IPC section decreased significantly, data from the report showed. Thirty-two such cases were registered under the IPC section in 2011 in Pune, which came down to three in 2012, showing a 90% decrease.

A study of the motives in the cases in Pune during 2013 showed seven cases under the 'revenge/ settling scores' category, more than any other city in this section. Around 15 cyber crimes were committed because of greed for money, 12 as pranks (highest among the other cities), 33 for illegal gains, 27 for harassment of women, among others.

Cyber crime expert Kirtar Oza told TOI that the report placed Maharashtra in third place for the crime, after Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, with the highest number of cyber crimes registered under IT Act 2000 during 2013.

"Again in Maharashtra, offences such as hacking using computer systems, forgery and criminal breach of trust) have dominance in both categories of registered cases (IT Act +IPC). Seven per cent of the total cases registered under IT Act in Maharashtra in 2013 were registered in Pune," he said.

The highest number of cases registered in Maharashtra have 'eve teasing and harassment' as the motive.

Another cyber crime expert, Shweta Chawla, said cyber crimes are increasing in Pune because people are casual about intangible security. "They will lock the doors, but not take appropriate measures to secure email accounts and computers. There is an educated section of society that is aware of the existence of cyber crimes and reports such crimes at the very first hint. This translates into an increase in the number of cyber crime cases registered in Pune. Conversely, it does not mean that cyber crimes are decreasing in Pune," she said.