In a major move to strengthen its defence against cyber-enabled economic crimes, the Odisha Police on Wednesday rolled out the ‘e-Zero FIR’ system specifically designed for cyber financial fraud.
Inaugurating the initiative in Bhubaneswar, Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania stated that the system marks a significant leap forward in utilising technology to deliver quicker, more transparent, and citizen-focused policing.
“As cyber financial frauds are witnessing a steady rise across the country, the e-Zero FIR system has been introduced to ensure prompt registration of cases, facilitate immediate police intervention and enhance the chances of preventing further financial loss,” Khurania said.
To make the purpose possible, the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) has linked the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) directly with Odisha’s Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) of Odisha. This seamless integration allows e-Zero FIR requests to be automatically generated for qualifying cyber fraud complaints, completely bypassing jurisdictional barriers, the DGP noted.
Under the new mechanism, any cyber financial fraud report involving an amount of Rs 10 lakh or more made via the 1930 helpline will instantly trigger an e-Zero FIR request within CCTNS. This request will then be automatically routed to the Crime Branch’s Cyber Police Station in Odisha.
The DGP clarified that depending on the specific facts and merits of each case, the Cyber Police Station can take several actions: register a regular FIR for investigation, transfer the complaint to the appropriate jurisdictional cyber unit, register a Zero FIR and send it to the competent territorial cybercrime station, merge it with an existing FIR, or dismiss the request if it falls short of the required criteria.
This system integration successfully eliminates the need for duplicate data entry, enables case registration, ensures smooth information between different law enforcement agencies, and gives victims a more efficient way to track their complaints, he added.
Reiterating the force’s vision, the DGP emphasized that Odisha Police is dedicated to adopting advanced technology to sharpen its cybercrime response and offer accessible, open, and prompt public service.
He urged citizens to report any incident of cyber financial fraud immediately through the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930, as prompt reporting is crucial for swift police intervention and boosting the chances of retrieving stolen money.
The DGP extended his appreciation to the officers and staff of the State Crime Records Bureau, the Crime Branch, and all stakeholders whose hard work successfully brought the e-Zero FIR system to life in Odisha.
