Delhi, India’s bustling capital, is grappling with a cybercrime epidemic, with over 700 daily complaints reported in 2024. In response, the Delhi Police’s Counter-Intelligence Unit (CIU) is rolling out a significant upgrade to its Netra (Networking Traffic Analysis) platform, a DRDO-developed AI-powered surveillance system. Launched on June 19, 2025, the next-generation Netra aims to preempt online threats by analyzing vast internet data streams, from social media posts to encrypted messages. With cyber frauds costing Delhiites ₹500 crore in 2024, can this high-tech overhaul curb the capital’s digital crime wave, or will it raise new challenges?
Netra’s Evolution
Netra, developed by DRDO’s Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), has been a cornerstone of India’s security infrastructure since 2012, used by the Intelligence Bureau and R&AW to monitor internet traffic. The upgraded Netra, approved by DCP Manishi Chandra in January 2025, integrates high-end servers costing ₹25 lakh each, procured at a discount for efficiency. Located at the CIU’s New Friends Colony hub, these servers process terabytes of data, including emails, VOIP calls, and social media activity, using AI-driven keyword filters like “bomb” or “attack” to flag threats. “Netra’s like a digital eye,” said a CIU officer, emphasizing its real-time monitoring prowess.
The upgrade enhances Netra’s ability to analyze encrypted messages and internet protocol details records (IPDRs), giving Delhi Police an edge over rival units. Unlike its predecessor, which struggled with scale, the new system supports 1,000 nodes, each storing 300GB of intercepted data, totaling 300,000GB. This capacity, combined with AI and machine learning, enables faster threat detection, crucial in a city where cybercrimes nearly doubled from 345 cases in 2021 to 685 in 2022.
Delhi’s Cybercrime Crisis
Delhi’s cybercrime surge reflects India’s digital boom, with 140 crore citizens increasingly online. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported 685 cybercrime cases in 2022, including 128 women and 121 minor girls as victims, driven by financial fraud, sextortion, and deepfake scams. In 2024, DCP Hemant Tiwari noted 700 daily complaints, with 200-250 involving financial losses, like a ₹22 crore investment scam. “Fraudsters exploit ignorance, greed, and fear,” Tiwari told The Hindu, highlighting tactics like phishing links and fake police impersonation.
Delhi Police’s Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit, housed under the Special Cell, tackles complex cases, leveraging the National Cyber Forensic Lab (NCFL) for digital forensics. Recent busts include a Delhi call center using AI for sextortion and a Noida-based network defrauding 60,000 victims. Yet, recovering funds remains tough, as fraudsters use cryptocurrency and digital wallets to launder money. “Speedy reporting is key,” said Tiwari, urging use of the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in).
Netra’s AI-Powered Arsenal
The upgraded Netra uses AI to sift through gigabytes of data, identifying patterns in encrypted communications across platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. Its filters detect suspicious keywords, even in private messages, a capability honed since its 2013 deployment by R&AW. The system’s integration with Delhi’s 10,000 CCTV feeds, part of the C4I Command Centre launching in June 2025, adds facial recognition and predictive analytics, flagging suspects in real-time. “Netra’s AI can process 20 faces in a crowd,” said a police source, citing its use in the 2023 G20 summit.‽web:0,16
Delhi Police’s AI journey began with a ₹287 crore budget in 2022, funding CCTV surveillance and predictive policing. A 2024 murder case near Geeta Colony, solved using AI to enhance a victim’s photo, showcased its potential. The C4I Centre, developed by C-DAC, will unify these tools, monitoring 1,000 live streams to detect crimes like gunshots or crowd unrest. “It’s a game-changer,” said Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a JNU tech policy expert.
Privacy and Ethical Concerns
Netra’s expansive reach raises alarms. Privacy advocates, like the Internet Freedom Foundation, argue India lacks a robust data protection law for facial data or intercepted communications. “False matches can ruin lives,” said Dr. Gupta, noting risks of misidentification, as seen in the 2020 Delhi riots probes. The C4I’s ability to monitor private messages, even with oversight, sparks fears of overreach. “We need clear limits,” said Neha More, a Delhi-based lawyer, citing the absence of an electronic surveillance law.‽web:16
Delhi Police insists Netra’s use is targeted, with keyword filters avoiding mass data sweeps. The CIU’s secretive operations, however, fuel distrust. “Transparency is critical,” said More, pointing to global debates over surveillance tools like Pegasus. The force’s 2018 facial recognition trials, used at PM Modi’s 2019 rally, faced similar criticism, yet Netra’s indigenous design—unlike NTRO’s foreign-aided system—bolsters its credibility among security agencies.
India’s Cybercrime Landscape
India ranks among the top five cybercrime targets globally, per a 2024 ETGovernment report. Delhi’s 55,000 monthly calls to the 1930 cyber helpline reflect this, with scams impersonating police or banks rampant. A 2025 Mumbai case, exposing a ₹1.98 lakh fraud linked to 60,000 victims, underscores the scale. Delhi Police’s training programs and cybersecurity audits aim to educate citizens, but fraudsters’ use of deepfakes and AI demands advanced countermeasures. “Netra’s upgrade is timely,” said Dr. Gupta.
Challenges Ahead
Netra’s success hinges on execution. Integrating AI with legacy CCTV networks and ensuring server uptime are technical hurdles. The IFSO unit, despite NCFL’s forensic tools, struggles with cross-state fraud networks, as seen in a 2024 bust spanning seven states. Recovering laundered funds via cryptocurrency remains elusive, with only ₹35 lakh recovered in a ₹6.93 crore scam. “Tech alone isn’t enough,” said a retired DCP, stressing coordination with banks and social media platforms.
Public awareness is another gap. Despite campaigns like “Cyber Pulse,” many Delhiites fall for phishing scams, delaying reports. “Netra can detect, but citizens must act fast,” said Tiwari. The force’s 180 arrests in 2024 show progress, but the 700 daily complaints suggest a long battle.
Can Netra Deliver?
Netra’s upgrade positions Delhi Police at the forefront of AI-driven policing, with its ability to monitor encrypted data and integrate with C4I’s CCTV feeds. Its indigenous design and DRDO backing inspire confidence, but privacy concerns and technical challenges loom. Delhi’s cybercrime crisis, costing ₹500 crore yearly, demands innovation, and Netra’s real-time threat detection could disrupt fraud networks.
Conclusion
Delhi Police’s Netra upgrade, launched June 19, 2025, is a bold bid to curb the capital’s cybercrime surge, with 700 daily complaints and ₹500 crore in losses. Powered by DRDO’s AI and high-end servers, Netra monitors internet traffic, from WhatsApp to VOIP, flagging threats in real-time. Integrated with C4I’s 10,000 CCTVs, it promises predictive policing but raises privacy fears amid India’s weak data laws. As fraudsters wield deepfakes and crypto, Netra’s success depends on technical finesse, public awareness, and ethical oversight. Will it tame Delhi’s digital wild west? The answer lies in balancing security with freedom.
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Last Updated on: Monday, June 23, 2025 8:44 pm by Hemang Warudkar | Published by: Hemang Warudkar on Monday, June 23, 2025 8:43 pm | News Categories: News, India, Trending
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