Karnataka lost Rs 312.5 crore in ‘digital arrest’ scam over three years: Minister
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): People in Karnataka lost Rs 312.5 crore in 1,314 cases of so-called 'digital arrest' over the past three years, Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Friday.
Sharing data in a written reply in the state Assembly, the minister said only Rs 24.86 crore had been recovered, while Rs 18.33 crore of the cheated amount was returned to victims.
According to the data, 147 cases of digital arrest were reported in 2023, when the trend first emerged, resulting in losses of Rs 16.66 crore.
'Digital arrest' is a form of cyber fraud where fraudsters pose as law enforcement officers and threaten people through audio or video calls, forcing them to transfer money online.
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The cases surged sharply in 2024 to 874, with losses amounting to Rs 151.25 crore. In 2025, the number of cases declined to 293, though the amount lost remained high at Rs 144.59 crore.
The data also showed a decline in overall cybercrime cases this year. Karnataka recorded 22,255 cybercrime cases in 2023, which rose marginally to 22,479 in 2024 before dropping to 13,599 in 2025.
While murder cases have declined, cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act have risen steadily, from 2,197 in 2019 to 4,096 in 2025.
The minister said overall atrocity cases showed a decline; however, atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes increased from 1,587 in 2019 to 2,277 in 2025.
Sexual assault cases against women declined this year compared to the previous three years, falling from 6,489 in 2023 and 6,568 in 2024 to 5,201 in 2025.
Riot-related cases also showed a downward trend, decreasing from 3,907 in 2023 to 3,462 in 2024 and 3,094 in 2025.
Drug-related cases, however, increased from 4,168 in 2024 to 5,930 in 2025, he added. The state destroyed drugs worth Rs 104.18 crore this year, the highest ever in Karnataka’s history.
Cases registered against police personnel have risen sharply over the years, increasing from 16 cases in 2019 to 78 cases in 2023, he added.
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MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
