Ahmedabad Cyber Crimes surge 61% in 2024 amid statewide decline: NCRB

Gujarat's largest city Ahmedabad witnessed a sharp 61% rise in cyber crime cases in 2024, even as the state recorded an overall decline of over 20%, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data.

Ahmedabad reported 396 cyber crime cases in 2024, up significantly from 246 cases in 2023. In contrast, Surat — often associated with higher violent crime — saw a notable 32% drop, registering 266 cases compared to 397 the previous year.

Cheating and forgery collectively dominated the cyber crime landscape in Ahmedabad, accounting for 229 of the 396 cases. This amounts to almost 57 percent of total cyber crime cases in Ahmedabad in 2024.

Other prominent categories included 36 computer-related offences, 30 cases of identity theft, and 40 cases involving the publication or transmission of obscene or sexually explicit material in electronic form. A total of 312 offences were registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) or Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Motive behind cyber fraud

Fraud emerged as the primary motive behind the crimes, driving 261 cases — nearly 65 percent of the total. Causing disrepute was the second major motive with 80 cases, followed by sexual exploitation (35 cases) and extortion (20 cases).

Law enforcement agencies in Ahmedabad acted swiftly, arresting 343 individuals in connection with these crimes, including 327 males and 16 females.

At the state level, Gujarat saw cyber crime cases fall from 1,995 in 2023 to 1,592 in 2024, marking a decline of more than 20%.