Government intensifies recovery systems while central bank counters 6.1 crore cyberattacks with AI-led security
ED Tracks ₹35,925 Cr in Cybercrime Proceeds Across 257 Cases
India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) has identified ₹35,925.6 crore in alleged cybercrime proceeds as of February 2026, spanning 257 cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
- Active coordination with law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and data-sharing under Section 66(2) of PMLA.
- Systems like SAHYOG, Samanvaya, ICJS, and the Cyber Crime Portal power investigations.
As cybercrime scales like a parallel digital economy, can enforcement keep pace with its velocity?
Minister of State Bandi Sanjay Kumar emphasized that states lead investigations, while the Centre provides infrastructure and intelligence support.
₹8,690 Cr Saved: Government Systems Show Early Recovery Gains
The government’s Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) has prevented losses of over ₹8,690 crore, addressing 24.65 lakh complaints.
- “Suspect Registry” flagged 27.37 lakh mule accounts.
- Authorities blocked transactions worth ₹9,518 crore.
Additional interventions include:
- 1 crore+ mobile connections disconnected
- 2.27 lakh handsets blocked
- Platforms like Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) and Chakshu enabling real-time reporting
These systems act like a financial firewall—stopping fraud mid-transaction rather than chasing it afterward.
RBI Faces 6.1 Cr Cyberattacks in a Single Quarter
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reported over 6.1 crore cyberattack attempts on its website in Q3 FY26—all successfully mitigated.
- Defenses include advanced firewalls and security engines.
- Increasing reliance on AI to detect attack patterns and trace origins.
If attack volumes are this high for the central bank, what does that imply for smaller fintech players?
Executive Director P. Vasudevan underscored that proactive defense, not reactive response, defines the next phase of cybersecurity.
AI-Powered DPI and Automation: RBI’s Forward Strategy
RBI is accelerating development of AI-driven Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and payments intelligence platforms.
- Focus on customer experience enhancement and automated grievance redressal.
- Integration of APIs and AI as foundational layers for future financial systems.
The shift signals a broader transformation: compliance, security, and user experience converging into a single AI stack.
TL;DR
ED is tracking ₹35,925 Cr in cybercrime proceeds across 257 cases. Government systems have saved ₹8,690 Cr and flagged millions of mule accounts. Meanwhile, RBI faced 6.1 Cr cyberattacks in Q3 FY26 and is deploying AI to strengthen cybersecurity and customer-facing infrastructure.
AI Summary
- ED probes ₹35,925 Cr linked to cybercrime
- ₹8,690 Cr saved via fraud reporting system
- 27.37 lakh mule accounts flagged
- RBI faced 6.1 Cr cyberattacks in Q3 FY26
- AI to power DPI, security, and grievance handling
