Gujarat Launches Cyber Crime Refund Portal, App to Unfreeze Bank Account

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched two online portals and a mobile application under the state’s Home Department to provide faster redressal in such cases.

The key highlight of the launch was the state-wide Cyber Crime Refund Portal, Tera Tujhko Arpan, which will enable quick refunds for victims of cyber fraud.

Additionally, a mobile application named Unfreeze has been introduced, allowing individuals to virtually unfreeze their bank accounts if they were unknowingly used in cyber crime-related transactions, eliminating the need for a physical appearance before police authorities.

The third platform, i-Pragati, is designed to improve transparency in investigations. It will provide real-time updates on the status of FIRs, including steps like panchnama, arrests and chargesheet filings, offering citizens easier access to case progress.

Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi said that Gujarat has become a national leader in cyber crime refunds and has set a benchmark for other states.

“We have successfully unfreezed 2.25 lakh accounts across the country,” he said, citing a new policy that ensures only the amount linked to a specific offence is frozen, rather than the entire account balance.

According to reports, accounts with more than five complaints exceeding Rs 5 lakh are flagged under this policy.

Sanghavi dismissed the notion that only less-educated individuals fall prey to such frauds, noting that most cyber crime victims in Gujarat are from urban, educated backgrounds.

He added that a hotline number will soon be integrated into a single Gujarat Police app for more accessible support.

On border security, Sanghavi said the state had deployed anti-drone systems in border districts under Operation Sindoor but did not need to activate them as the armed forces successfully handled drones sent from Pakistan. He stated that Gujarat’s foresight in acquiring such systems has proven prudent, even though they were not deployed during the recent episode.