Karnataka records only 0.23% conviction rate in cybercrime cases due to procedural gaps
Bengaluru: Karnataka's conviction rate in cybercrime cases remains alarmingly low, with only 204 convictions recorded from 85,642 cases registered under the Information Technology Act between 2020 and July 2025.
According to data obtained by the Deccan Herald, the rate of conviction is only 0.23 percent. The data also reveals that 2024 had the highest number of registered cases at 22,472. Out of which only 20 were convicted. Senior authorities have blamed the low rate of conviction on procedural flaws, a backlog of cases and obstacles specific to cybercrime investigations.
Compliance with in-person notifications and warrants also becomes difficult for investigating authorities as they face challenges in locating witnesses who live across the country. The preservation of digital evidence poses another critical problem.
“The very nature of electronic evidence is such that it gets lost over time, naturally,” said C Vamsi Krishna, Joint Commissioner of Police (West Bengaluru). He cited instances where courts requested raw CCTV footage during trials, only for cases to collapse because original files were overwritten after a few weeks.
Experts also pointed to the limited cooperation from intermediaries such as banks, Internet Service Providers, and social media platforms. “Most of the reliable evidence gets stuck with intermediaries, who seldom cooperate. Until they are held accountable like other suspects, securing convictions becomes challenging,” said Vijayashankar Nagarajarao, a Bengaluru-based cyberlaw expert. He noted that encrypted and anonymous services such as Proton Mail continue to hinder investigations. He called for stricter enforcement against non-compliant entities.
Financial complexities further obstruct investigation as the cybercriminals often use ‘mule accounts’ to launder proceeds through multiple layers of transactions. Investigators have traced money through as many as 1,000 accounts in few cases. Each of these cases requires separate verification and compliance processes.
Authorities noted that legal reforms are being considered to strengthen investigations and trials. “We have learnt from our experiences and have incorporated solutions into our training. Regular sessions are being conducted for police, prosecutors, and judicial officers,” Krishna said.
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Allahabad HC orders FIR against Rahul Gandhi in alleged dual citizenship case
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday directed the registration of an FIR against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in connection with an alleged dual citizenship controversy.
The court also observed that after the registration of the FIR, the state government may seek the assistance of a central agency to investigate the matter.
The order was passed by a bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi on a petition filed by S Vignesh Shishir, who had challenged a January 28, 2026 order of a special MP/MLA court rejecting his plea for an FIR against Gandhi, who is also the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha.
The special court had earlier held that it was not competent to adjudicate on issues related to citizenship.
The petitioner, a BJP worker from Karnataka, had sought registration of an FIR and a detailed probe into the matter, levelling allegations against Gandhi under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Official Secrets Act, the Foreigners Act and the Passport Act.
The complaint was initially filed before the special MP/MLA court in Rae Bareli. However, on the petitioner's request, the high court transferred the case to Lucknow on December 17, 2025.
The MP/MLA court in Lucknow subsequently dismissed the plea on January 28, 2026, prompting the petitioner to approach the high court, which has now ordered registration of an FIR.
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