Chandigarh: Punjab has operationalised the e-Zero FIR mechanism for cyber financial frauds involving transactions of more than Rs 5 lakh, allowing complaints to be converted automatically into FIRs to speed up investigations and improve recovery of defrauded money.Director general of police Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday issued a standing order implementing the system, under which eligible complaints received through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) or the cybercrime helpline 1930 will be automatically registered as e-Zero FIRs and electronically forwarded to the concerned cybercrime police station through the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS).Cyber fraud cases involving losses of Rs 1 crore or more will be transferred to the State Cyber Crime Police Station in Mohali for investigation.“The first few hours after a cyber financial fraud are the most critical for tracing and freezing funds. By enabling automatic registration, the e-Zero FIR system empowers investigating officers to take urgent legal and technical measures without procedural delays,” the DGP said.He said the mechanism would enable police to immediately initiate action to freeze bank accounts, digital wallets and other payment instruments used in cyber frauds, preserve electronic evidence and coordinate with financial institutions to maximise recovery of stolen money.Victims will receive details of the e-Zero FIR, the investigating officer and the cybercrime police station concerned, and will have to visit the police station within three days to complete statutory formalities under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.Punjab became the 19th state or Union Territory to implement the mechanism on the day the Union home ministry informed Lok Sabha that the system was operational in 18 states and UTs. According to the ministry, Delhi has registered the highest number of e-Zero FIRs (6,115) since implementing the system in May 2025, followed by Chandigarh (4,174).Special DGP (Cyber Crime) V Neeraja said the mechanism would strengthen coordination between the NCRP, cybercrime helpline 1930, banks, financial institutions, telecom service providers and other stakeholders, enabling quicker action in cyber fraud cases. She urged people to report financial cyber frauds immediately through helpline 1930 or the NCRP portal, saying prompt reporting significantly improves the chances of freezing fraudulent transactions and recovering money.
