Cyber matters now reach every court in Delhi — from UPI and net-banking frauds to identity theft, online harassment and data offences. The chamber acts for victims of cyber crime and for persons accused in such cases.
The Statutory Framework
Cyber offences in India are governed by the Information Technology Act, 2000 — notably Section 43 and Section 66 (computer-related offences including hacking and data theft), Sections 66C and 66D (identity theft and cheating by personation using a computer resource), and Section 67 (publishing obscene material electronically) — alongside the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, whose provisions on cheating (Section 318), extortion and criminal intimidation apply to online conduct. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 adds a regulatory layer for personal data.
Matters the Chamber Handles
- Online financial fraud — UPI, net-banking, credit card and OTP frauds, including complaints through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) and the 1930 helpline, and follow-up with cyber police stations in Delhi. See online fraud and ATM fraud.
- Identity theft and impersonation — fake profiles, SIM-swap frauds and impersonation under Sections 66C/66D IT Act.
- Online harassment and defamation — criminal complaints and defence, including content takedown requests to intermediaries.
- Defence of accused persons — persons implicated in cyber FIRs, including account holders whose accounts have received tainted funds, and bail in cyber matters.
- Digital evidence — admissibility of electronic records under Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (earlier Section 65B of the Evidence Act), a decisive issue in most cyber trials.
Acting Quickly Matters
In online fraud, the first hours matter: prompt reporting to the bank and on the 1930 helpline can lead to freezing of the fraudulent beneficiary account. The chamber assists victims in pursuing the complaint, tracing proceedings and seeking release of frozen amounts before the courts where required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do immediately after an online fraud?
Report the transaction to your bank, call the national cyber fraud helpline 1930, and lodge a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in without delay. Early reporting improves the chance of the beneficiary account being frozen before funds are moved on.
My bank account was frozen in a cyber investigation. What can be done?
Accounts are often frozen because tainted funds passed through them, even where the holder is not an accused. Remedies include representations to the investigating officer and applications before the jurisdictional court for de-freezing or release of the amount.
Are screenshots and chat records admissible in court?
Electronic records are admissible subject to the certification requirements of Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (which replaced Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872). How the record is collected and certified frequently decides its evidentiary value.