Justice B.N. Srikrishna, Inspector General of Cybercrime in Rajasthan Sharat Kavi Raj and NALSAR University Professor K.V.K. Santhy along with others at a session in Shield 2025
Amid discussions about the rising number of cybercrime cases, low conviction rate has emerged as a key challenge. Speaking at Shield 2025, a cybersecurity conference at Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) in the city on Wednesday, Justice B.N. Srikrishna, a retired Supreme Court judge, emphasised the need for specialised training for lawyers handling cybercrime cases.
“We need specialised training for prosecutors handling cybercrime. Even magistrates and session judges trying such cases must be given rigorous training to ensure effective trials,” he stated.
Latest cyber offences like ‘digital arrest’, which have been been making headlines are not defined in the Indian law, raising serious questions about the investigation and justice delivery in such cases, the former judge said.
Sharat Kavi Raj, Inspector General of Cybercrime in Rajasthan, agreed, adding that police officials investigating these cases must also be digitally evolved and must be trained for quick response.
“Cybercrime investigations are becoming more challenging due to the use of AI, emerging networks and jurisdictional challenges. We need special courts, judges and trained investigating officers to address these challenges effectively,” he noted.
K.V.K. Santhy of NALSAR University pointed out gaps in the legal framework. “India has hundreds of cyber offences but limited legal provisions to address them. The IT Act does not define cybercrime, cyber extortion, or cyber frauds, making prosecution difficult,” she explained.
She also stressed the need for immediate action on cyber extortion involving cryptocurrency. “There is no legal mechanism to freeze cryptocurrency transactions, which hamper investigations into cyber extortion cases. This needs urgent attention.”
The Indian Evidence Act’s Section 65B requires a specific certification for digital evidence to be presented in court. “While cybercrime cases are mounting, the limited number of experts qualified to provide these certifications is a major bottleneck, leading to delays and dismissals of crucial evidence,” she added.
Experts also emphasised the need to integrate training on prosecuting cybercrime cases into university curricula, equipping law students with the necessary skills from the start of their education.
The panel collectively called for urgent need for legal reforms, specialised training and legal overhaul to address modern AI-driven cyber threats, financial frauds and fake news, effectively.
Published – February 19, 2025 07:05 pm IST
