Nagpur: Amid the rising cases of cyber fraud across Maharashtra, West Nagpur MLA and President of the Nagpur City (District) Congress Committee, Vikas Thakre, raised sharp questions to the state government regarding the effectiveness of measures taken to curb cyber crimes. He demanded an explanation on how nearly ₹2,000 crore allocated to tackle cyber fraud has been utilized.
Raising the issue during the ongoing state budget session in Mumbai, Thakre highlighted the alarming reality that only about 2 percent of the money lost in cyber fraud cases is being recovered. He said this reflects a serious gap in the current system meant to protect citizens from digital financial crimes.
Thakre stated that thousands of citizens across the state fall victim to cyber fraud every day, yet the recovery of the cheated money remains extremely low. This, he said, is increasing the sense of insecurity among the public.
Gold Rate
Mar 10, 2026 - Time 11.45Hrs
Questioning the government’s spending, he asked that if nearly ₹2,000 crore has been spent to prevent cyber crimes and protect citizens, why are the results not visible on the ground.
Responding to the concern, the concerned minister assured the House that the government is working to increase awareness among citizens about cyber crimes. The minister said that around 21 crore awareness messages will be sent every month, and approximately ₹34 crore will be spent on public awareness campaigns to educate people about cyber fraud prevention.
However, Thakre maintained that mere announcements about the “Golden Hour” response will not solve the problem. He emphasized the urgent need for a real-time alert system, faster investigation mechanisms, and the use of modern technology to track down cyber criminals quickly.
“Protecting the hard-earned money of citizens is the fundamental responsibility of the government,” Thakre said, urging the administration to take immediate and concrete steps to effectively control cyber crimes in the state.
