SRINAGAR: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced the successful implementation of an e-Zero FIR system for cyber financial fraud in Jammu and Kashmir. Since its introduction in July this year, 39 such complaints have been registered, signifying a proactive step towards combating online financial crimes in the Union Territory.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the e-Zero FIR mechanism, a digital initiative, allows complaints lodged through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) or the national cyber helpline (1930) to be automatically converted into an e-Zero FIR. This initial digital record is then forwarded to the designated e-Crime Police Station within the respective State or Union Territory.
Following the electronic registration, the complainant is required to visit the jurisdictional police station within a three-day period to formalise the e-Zero FIR into a regular First Information Report (FIR). This process ensures that crucial initial information is captured swiftly, regardless of the complainant’s physical location at the time of the incident, while still adhering to procedural requirements for a full investigation.
The MHA informed Parliament that the e-Zero FIR system has been rolled out across 18 States and Union Territories. Delhi leads in the number of e-Zero FIRs with 6,115 registrations, followed by Chandigarh with 4,174. Jammu and Kashmir, which commenced the system’s operation in July, has recorded 39 e-Zero FIRs to date.
The legal framework supporting this digital initiative is Section 173(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. This provision empowers the reporting of information concerning any cognisable offence, whether orally or electronically, to any police station, irrespective of the location where the offence took place. This legislative backing facilitates the seamless operation of the e-Zero FIR mechanism.
The Ministry further clarified that while the Central government provides the necessary technological infrastructure for the e-Zero FIR system, the primary responsibilities for policing and maintaining public order remain with the States and Union Territories. Consequently, the investigation of cyber fraud complaints, the conversion of initial e-Zero FIRs into regular FIRs, the filing of chargesheets, conducting arrests, and the overall disposal of cases are functions carried out by the respective law enforcement agencies.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
