Cyber crime
By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Bihar, regarded as the state with the lowest per capita income, is increasingly falling into the grip of cyber criminals. Several districts in the state have witnessed organised cyber fraud operations, with criminals adopting new methods every day to dupe unsuspecting people. According to estimates, residents of Bihar are cheated of more than ₹500 crore annually.
Bihar is fast emerging as a hub for cyber crime, with offenders spreading their network across most districts. Earlier, cyber fraud operations were largely linked to Jamtara in Jharkhand, but now Nalanda and Nawada districts have become major centres of cyber crime.
International fraud rackets are being operated from areas such as Noorsarai and Katari Sarai. Cyber criminals are devising new schemes to trap people, targeting even the poor and innocent. Recently, an international cyber fraud case surfaced in Purnia, which was later cracked by the police. Former IPS officer Amitabh Kumar Das said cyber crime in Bihar has now taken an organised form.
Cyber criminals are active across most districts, extorting money in the name of banks or through so-called “digital arrests”. Victims often face reluctance from authorities in registering complaints, and even when cases are lodged, the process of recovering money takes considerable time.
Over the past few years, Bihar has seen a sharp rise in cyber crime cases. In 2022, a total of 1,606 cases were registered. This figure jumped to 4,450 in 2023 — an increase of nearly 2.7 times. In 2024, as many as 5,712 cases were reported, while 3,258 cases were registered till May 2025. Compared to 2022, cyber crime cases rose fourfold by 2024.
Estimates suggest cyber criminals siphon off between ₹800 crore and ₹1,000 crore annually in Bihar. Fraudsters use tactics such as fake bank calls, impersonation of CBI or Enforcement Directorate officials, and “digital arrests”, through which crores of rupees have already been looted.
A new trend is also emerging: earlier, less-educated people were the primary targets, but now IAS and IPS officers, politicians and judicial officials are also falling victim. In 2025 alone, several such incidents have shocked the administration, with cyber extortion cases reported across nearly all districts.
On January 20, 2025, a cyber fraud case came to light in Jamui, where doctor Kailash Prasad Sharma was digitally arrested and cheated of ₹15 lakh. On February 5, railway employee Vikas Kumar was kept under digital arrest for five days and defrauded of ₹1.6 lakh in the name of a CBI officer. On April 8, a teacher in Gaya district was cheated of ₹40 lakh using a similar modus operandi.
Politicians are also being targeted. On April 15, cyber criminals digitally detained RJD Legislative Council member Mohammad Shoaib for 12 hours. Though no loss figure was disclosed, the matter was resolved after police intervention. On May 21, a doctor couple in Hanuman Nagar were kept under digital arrest for 12 days and cheated of ₹1.95 crore. On June 28, a teacher in Chapra district was defrauded of ₹1.5 lakh over a fake credit card issue.
Despite Bihar ranking low on the poverty index, cyber criminals continue to prey on the poor. As per the Economic Survey 2023–24, Bihar’s per capita income ranges between ₹59,637 annually, with estimates for 2024–25 placing it at around ₹69,321.
Cyber expert Abhinav stressed that public awareness is crucial to curb cyber crime, as fraudsters constantly invent new techniques. While police action is underway, much more needs to be done. He suggested that if banks use artificial intelligence to immediately freeze suspicious transactions, cyber crime could be reduced and victims’ money recovered more effectively.
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