Telangana cops refund Rs 183 crore to cybercrime victims in 2024; quick response, AI tools help crack cases

Telangana: In what comes across as hope to cybercrime victims, Telangana police refunded Rs 183 crore to 18,000 victims in 2024. Golden hour complaints and AI-driven investigative tools like crime OS helped Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) enhance cybercrime detection and improve response times, the police said.

SHIELD 2025—one of the biggest cyber security conclaves in the country—was held on Tuesday, organised by Telangana police with a focus on the growing importance of collaborative cybersecurity efforts, ensuring a resilient and future-ready digital ecosystem.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy emphasised the growing cyber threats in an increasingly digital Telangana and reaffirmed the State government’s commitment to strengthening cyber security infrastructure.

Centralised cyber hub for defending against cyber risks

Telangana IT minister Sridhar Babu announced that discussions are underway to establish the Telangana Cyber Defence Centre (TGCDC), a dedicated initiative to proactively defend police departments and government agencies against cyber threats. This centre will serve as a centralised hub for monitoring, mitigating and responding to cyber risks, ensuring enhanced security across government institutions.

DGP Dr Jitender emphasised the need for advanced training programs and specialised task forces to tackle emerging threats such as ransomware, financial fraud and AI-powered cyberattacks.

Avinash Mohanty, IPS, commissioner spoke about Cyberabad police’s efforts in tackling cybercrime through technology-driven policing, awareness campaigns and strategic partnerships with industry experts.

All about 2-day conclave SHEILD 2025

A significant highlight of the event was the virtual launch of the Cyber Fusion Centre (CFC), Cyber Protection Unit (CPU) and Security Operations Centre (SOC) by chief minister A Revanth Reddy these units will play a pivotal role in strengthening Telangana’s cyber defence capabilities.

These initiatives aim to enhance real-time threat monitoring, streamline cyber incident responses, and fortify the security infrastructure of police and government departments.

A key attraction at SHIELD 2025 is the Technology Experience Zone (TEZ), where delegates can explore AI-driven cybersecurity innovations, live cyberattack simulations, and hands-on defence technologies.

The zone features AI-powered threat detection, digital forensics tools, neural network-based facial recognition, AI-driven authentication and payment fraud protection, as well as surveillance drones and AR/VR cybersecurity training modules.