With cyber fraud and digital crimes rising across the country, Karnataka has stepped up efforts to strengthen cybercrime investigations by training thousands of officials from different agencies.
The Centre for Cyber Crime Investigation Training and Research (CCITR) trained more than 13,000 security personnel across India during the 2025–26 financial year, with a large number of participants coming from the Karnataka police. The training programme was launched in 2019 by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in partnership with the Data Security Council of India and Infosys Foundation.
Speaking at the state’s annual cybercrime investigation summit CIDECODE, Home Minister G Parameshwara highlighted the growing risks in the digital space. “Cybercrime is not confined to any geographical area. It is a borderless, technology-driven, and continuously evolving crime. From financial frauds and cryptocurrency to dark web-based drug networks and data breaches, the scale of threats is rapidly increasing. These challenges must be addressed not only through technical capabilities but also by strengthening laws in an organised manner.”
As part of the programme, more than 5,200 personnel from the Karnataka State Police received virtual training on cybercrime investigations. Another 926 officers were trained in topics such as open-source intelligence techniques, the dark web and deep web, and the basics of blockchain technology.
Officials said simulated cybercrime scenes were also created during the training to help officers practise search and seizure procedures under different situations.
Specialised digital forensics training was provided to 8 police officers selected from 43 Cyber, Economic and Narcotics (CEN) police stations across the state. The programme also included 40 Special Action Force personnel and technical experts within the department.
Training was extended to more than 400 probationary sub-inspectors from the Karnataka Police Academy in Mysuru and the Police Training College in Kalaburagi.
The initiative also included officials beyond the police force. Around 210 judicial officers, including district and sessions judges and senior civil judges, attended cyberlaw workshops organised with the Karnataka Judicial Academy. Additionally, 30 officers from the state’s commercial taxes department received training in digital investigation techniques.
Personnel from national agencies such as the National Investigation Agency and the Indian Air Force also participated in the programme.
According to Pronab Mohanty, Director General of Police (Cyber Command), many cyber criminals involved in “pig butchering” and stock market scams operate from remote locations. “These individuals have a terrifyingly high grasp of technology. They may not have university degrees, but they have mastered how we behave around technology,” he said.
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