Karnataka Home Minister Reveals Shocking Loss: Citizens Lost ₹5,474 Crore to Cyber Fraud and Online Betting in Three Years
State recovered only ₹627 crore despite nearly 58,000 cybercrime cases registered since 2023.
Karnataka Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara on Tuesday informed the Assembly that citizens in the state have lost a staggering ₹5,474 crore to cyber fraud and online betting scams over the past three years. Out of this, police have managed to recover only ₹627 crore.
Responding to a question by Sullekere BJP MLA Cement Manju regarding the risks online betting poses to youth aged 16 to 35, Parameshwara said that from 2023 to 15 November 2025, the state recorded 57,733 cybercrime cases, of which 10,711 have been solved so far.
Giving a year-by-year breakdown, he said:
- 2023: 22,255 cases, losses of ₹873 crore, with ₹177 crore recovered.
- 2024: 22,478 cases, losses of ₹2,562 crore, with ₹323 crore recovered.
- 2025 (till Nov 15): 13,000 cases registered so far, with losses amounting to ₹13,000 crore.
Parameshwara highlighted that Karnataka was the first state in India to establish a dedicated Cyber Vertical headed by a Director General of Police. The state currently operates 43 cyber police stations, supported by a Cyber Command Centre.
He also addressed the legal background surrounding online gaming. In 2021, the former BJP government amended the Karnataka Police Act to ban online games. However, in 2022, the High Court struck down this amendment following a petition by the All India Gaming Federation. The state government has since challenged the ruling in the Supreme Court, where the case is scheduled for hearing on 19 December.
