In a hyper-connected state where every household is a potential target, only a strong partnership between law enforcement and the public can turn Kerala’s digital edge into a shield rather than a vulnerability.
Published Aug 22, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 22, 2025 | 10:12 AM
Inauguration of the Security Operations Center of the Kerala Police Cyber Division in March.
Synopsis: The Kerala Police is bolstering its cyber investigation arsenal in a bid to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. The Kerala Home Department’s State Plan Scheme 2025-26 outlines an ambitious roadmap to strengthen the state’s cyber resilience and law enforcement capabilities in the digital space.
Cybercrime has no borders, no warning signs, and no fixed patterns — it strikes when least expected. In the shadowy world of cybercrime, unpredictability is the only constant — no one knows when, where, or how the next strike will come.
As digital threats evolve at lightning speed, the Kerala Police is bolstering its cyber investigation arsenal — from AI-driven mechanisms to specialised training and state-of-the-art cyber security, malware, and darknet research labs — in a bid to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.
A cyber security awareness poster from the Kerala Police.
With 99 internet connections for every 100 people, Kerala stands out as one of India’s most digitally connected states — but that connectivity has also made it a potential hotspot for cybercriminals.
Cybercrime cases in the state have surged from 426 in 2020 to 3,581 in 2024, with 1,231 cases already registered till June this year.
Authorities stress that breaking the perception of “virtual impunity” is essential, as swift and effective prosecution remains the strongest deterrent against malicious actors misusing information and communication technologies (ICTs).
The focus, police officials note, is two-pronged: Combating “cyber-dependent crimes”, such as illegal hacking that compromises the confidentiality, integrity and availability of electronic systems; and tackling “cyber-enabled crimes” — traditional offences that are amplified in scale and scope through digital means.
These range from Information and Communication Technology (ICT) related forgery and fraud to grave offences like online child sexual exploitation, grooming of minors, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
National trends echo the urgency, with the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data showing cybercrime cases in India rising by 42.7 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year, dominated by computer-related offences under Section 66 of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000.
For Kerala, the message is clear: Its digital edge must be matched with equally robust cyber vigilance.
The Kerala Home Department’s State Plan Scheme 2025-26 outlines an ambitious roadmap to strengthen the state’s cyber resilience and law enforcement capabilities in the digital space. A key highlight of the plan is the proposal to establish a Cyber Security Malware Lab with an outlay of ₹66.23 lakh.
The lab is expected to play a crucial role in detecting, analysing and neutralising emerging malware threats that increasingly target government systems, financial networks, and citizens.
It’s said that by simulating real-time attack scenarios, the facility will equip police and forensic experts with advanced tools to understand the modus operandi of cybercriminals and respond proactively, ensuring stronger digital safety for the state.
Equally significant is the proposal to establish a Dark Net Research and Development Lab, envisioned as part of the broader Cyberdome initiative.
A volunteer enrollment notification from Cyberdome.
With the darknet increasingly being misused for trafficking drugs, arms, stolen data and even child exploitation materials, the lab will act as a specialised unit for surveillance, intelligence gathering, and covert operations in hidden online networks.
The initiative also includes training and skill development for officers and a subscription to Cyniq, an open-source intelligence (OSINT) platform offering tools like C-Track to trace IP addresses, locations, and device details.
These resources will greatly enhance law enforcement’s ability to track cybercriminal footprints that usually remain invisible on traditional networks.
Complementing these initiatives are proposals such as artificial intelligence (AI) driven mobile apps for police officers (₹85.12 lakh) and high-level training in partnership with institutions like National Programme for the Advancement of Cyber Security, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing and National Forensics Sciences University (₹46.94 lakh).
Police officials said that, together, these measures may position the state at the forefront of cybercrime prevention, digital forensics, and intelligence-led policing.
Police officials point to the alarming spread of cybercrime in the country, where even teenagers are emerging as masterminds of elaborate frauds. The recent Parivahan scam unearthed by the Kochi Cyber Police is one such case.
In July, investigators busted a nationwide racket that duped vehicle owners using fake Parivahan applications. Victims were lured into downloading malicious APK files on WhatsApp under the pretext of paying traffic fines.
The probe led the team to Varanasi, where Atul Kumar Singh (32) and Manish Yadav (24) were arrested. But what startled investigators was that the brain behind the operation was a 16-year-old relative of Yadav.
Using a Telegram bot, the gang managed to access details of more than 2,700 vehicles across Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
The case came to light after an Ernakulam native lost ₹85,000 through one such fake link. Acting on his complaint filed on the NCRP portal, Inspector Shamir Khan and his team traced the digital trail that exposed the racket.
A cyber security awareness poster from the Kerala Police.
With teenage masterminds running scams, crores being siphoned, and attacks targeting even institutions, Kerala’s battle with cybercrime is only intensifying. Officials in the cyber wing indicate that online fraud remains a growing menace in Kerala.
Police data show Malayalis lost ₹1,200 crore to cyber fraud in the last three years. From January to March 2025 alone, 9,539 cyber fraud complaints were filed.
Police managed to block ₹26.26 crore before it vanished, and a portion is being returned to victims after court approvals.
As part of a special statewide drive in July, 286 arrests were made and ₹6.5 crore was recovered. The police also froze 61,361 bank accounts, 18,653 SIM cards, and 59,218 mobile/IMEI numbers linked to cyber fraud.
Officials stress that reporting within the “golden hour”— the first hour after the fraud — gives victims the best chance to recover their money.
Despite round-the-clock helplines and awareness efforts, many ordinary citizens remain vulnerable.
Realising that awareness messages often fail to reach housewives, elderly citizens, and small-scale workers, Kerala Police launched a novel outreach campaign in May 2025.
In partnership with Milma, cyber safety messages and the helpline number 1930 are now printed on milk packets that reach 30 lakh households daily.
“Milk packets go where social media cannot,” said Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) S Sreejith, stressing that the campaign would help even remote households learn how to guard against scams.
Institutions are not immune either—universities, financial establishments, and even research centres have come under cyber attack.
To counter this, Kerala Police in March launched an AI-based Security Operations Centre (SOC) with the help of Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).
The SOC, according to authorities, is 24X7 and will play a crucial role in cyber threat monitoring, identifying vulnerabilities and ensuring robust data protection.
The SOC, a first for any state police force in India, ensures 24×7 monitoring of vulnerabilities and shields around 10,000 computers in the department.
In February, Kerala emerged as the second-highest contributor of officers to India’s upcoming Cyber Commando force. Seventy-three officers from the state cleared the national-level exam conducted by the National Forensic Science University.
After advanced training in digital forensics and cyber defence, they will form part of a national elite squad under the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (i4C).
Said a techie associating with cybercrime investigation, “The new labs, AI-driven tools, and training initiatives will certainly strengthen Kerala’s cybercrime response, but technology alone cannot solve the problem. Authorities must ensure swift investigations, prosecutions, and inter-agency coordination, while citizens need to stay vigilant, report incidents promptly, and adopt safe digital practices. Only a joint effort between the state and the public can truly curb the menace of cybercrime.”
In a hyper-connected state where every household is a potential target, only a strong partnership between law enforcement and the public can turn Kerala’s digital edge into a shield rather than a vulnerability.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
