Karnataka becomes first state to create DGP role dedicated to cybersecurity

In a first of its kind, Karnataka is set to become the first state in India to create a dedicated Director General of Police (DGP) position focused solely on cybersecurity. The new role will be part of a specialised vertical within the police department, enhancing the investigation of cyber, economic, and narcotics crimes.
This move adds to Karnataka’s growing achievements in tackling cybercrime, following the establishment of India’s first cybercrime police station in the early 2000s.
While each district in Karnataka currently operates its own cybercrime cell and police stations, the establishment of a centralised vertical aims to streamline and coordinate these efforts under unified leadership. A proposal from the Karnataka Home Department will be submitted to the Finance Department for approval, following which the new DGP position can be formally created.
This fifth DGP role will be added alongside the current four DGP positions in Karnataka. Presently, the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) leads the state police force, while other DGP-ranked officers head the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Fire and Emergency Services, and Prisons and Correctional Services. The fifth DGP will be specifically tasked with overseeing the Cyber, Economics, and Narcotics (CEN) crime wing.
Earlier this year, Karnataka created a new Cyber, Economics, and Narcotics (CEN) wing within the CID to address the surge in cybercrime. Pronab Mohanty, an officer of the ADGP rank, was appointed to lead the initiative and oversee operations aimed at tackling cybercrime-related challenges.
This proposed structure reflects Karnataka’s proactive approach to addressing cyber threats, financial crimes, and drug-related offences, which are rising with the state’s rapidly growing technology sector.
The capital city of Bengaluru alone has witnessed a significant surge in cybercrime, with residents losing Rs 1,242.7 crore in the first eight months of this year, marking an increase of Rs 214.6 crore compared to previous years. The city reported 12,356 cyber crimes until August 31, 2024. This uptick follows a total of 17,633 cybercrimes in 2023.