New Delhi: In a major push to secure India’s digital financial landscape, Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday called for the universal adoption of the ‘Mule Account Hunter’ software to dismantle the evolving ecosystem of cyber-enabled frauds. Speaking at a conference in the city, Shah revealed that India had frozen Rs 8,189 crore of the Rs 20,000 crore lost to cybercriminals, a significant milestone in victim restitution. Till Dec 2025, enforcement agencies have cancelled 12 lakh SIM cards, blocked three lakh mobile IMEIs and arrested 20,853 people linked to cybercrimes, he added.The software, a joint initiative by central govt and Reserve Bank of India, is a crucial tool for banks to identify and purge fraudulent accounts used to launder stolen money.Shah said the scale of India’s digital transformation had necessitated an aggressive stance. “The country records every second digital transaction globally, with 181 billion UPI transactions valued at over Rs 233 trillion in 2024 alone,” he said. With 100 crore internet users and 57 crore Jan Dhan accounts, the minister noted that cyber security had transitioned from a matter of economic safety to a pillar of national security.He pointed out that 11 years ago, the country had only 250 million internet users, whereas it had crossed 1 billion internet users today. “Broadband connections have increased nearly 16 times and also surpassed the one-billion mark. The cost of one gigabyte of data has declined by 97%, which has significantly expanded both internet access and usage.” Under the BharatNet project, only 546 village panchayats were connected 11 years ago, while more than 2,00,000 village panchayats are covered now.The enforcement strategy is anchored by Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, which links over 795 institutions, including fintechs, NBFCs and e-commerce platforms. While 62 major banks were integrated, Shah set a deadline of Dec 2026 to onboard all financial entities, with the focus on cooperative banks. This integration is vital for 1930 helpline, which Shah identified as a critical tool for victims. He asked police units nationwide to increase call-handling capacity at these centres, warning that a delayed response often results in the permanent loss of funds.Shah also inaugurated a cybercrime branch for CBI and launched the State Cyber Crime Coordination Centre dashboard to address the shifting nature of digital threats.Shah emphasised that the state must now remain “two steps ahead” through real-time reporting, a robust network of forensic laboratories and the promotion of “cyber hygiene” among the public.He reminded stakeholders that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi had elevated cyber awareness through Mann ki Baat, the ultimate goal of a “cyber success society” depended on the private and public sectors working in sync.
