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Time of India
03-08-2025
- Time of India
UT cyber police recover just ₹15cr of ₹95cr cheated in online frauds over 2 yrs
1 2 Chandigarh: In a span of two years, the UT cyber police registered 257 FIRs related to online frauds involving more than Rs 95 crore. Despite arresting 200 cyber fraudsters between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2025, the police managed to recover only slightly over Rs 15 crore of the cheated amount. This significant gap between the total fraud and the recovered sum underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in tackling digital crimes. Cyber police officials and experts attribute the low recovery rate to two major factors. First, victims often delay reporting the fraud, which drastically reduces the chances of freezing unauthorised transactions. Second, fraudsters typically transfer the stolen money into multiple fake accounts, making it difficult for investigators to trace and intercept the funds before they are withdrawn. Cyber expert Gurcharan Singh emphasised the importance of timely reporting, stating, "Reporting cyber fraud as soon as possible increases the chances of recovering cheated money or freezing unauthorised transactions. In most cases, victims failed to report the online cheating within 24 hours. Sometimes people also come to know about the fraud after two or three days." He added that by the time police reach the final account in the transaction chain, the money is often already spent. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo This data was disclosed by the cyber police in response to an RTI filed by R K Garg, founder and president of the Second Innings Association, an organisation working for senior citizens in the Tricity. Garg pointed out that the cyber cell suffers from a lack of technically qualified personnel, inadequate staffing, outdated equipment, and insufficient support from the banking system. Even after transactions are frozen, victims face long delays in getting their money back due to complex banking procedures and legal formalities. Over the two-year period, the cyber police received between 500 to 850 complaints each month, amounting to roughly 21,000 complaints in total. Monthly fraud amounts ranged from Rs 1 crore to Rs 6.5 crore. A significant portion of these financial losses stemmed from investment frauds and digital arrest scams. In 2025 alone, Chandigarh reported eight cases of digital arrest scams, matching the total number from the previous year. Most of the victims were retired army officers. Among the most distressing cases was that of 82-year-old retired Indian Army officer Colonel Dalip Singh Bajwa and his 74-year-old wife Ranvinder Kaur Bajwa, who were scammed out of Rs 3.41 crore. In another incident, retired Colonel Harmohinder Singh Puri from Sector 34 was threatened with a money laundering case and warned of imminent arrest. In a bid to prove his innocence, he transferred Rs 36 lakh via RTGS to an ICICI Bank account. Cyber experts and victims have called for the establishment of special cyber courts, similar to those operated by the CBI and NIA, along with the appointment of dedicated cyber prosecutors to expedite justice in such cases. Despite the challenges, R K Garg commended the cyber police for their efforts in raising awareness. He acknowledged their initiatives through social media, seminars in schools and colleges, and special campaigns aimed at educating residents about emerging cyber fraud trends. The cyber police emphasised that awareness remains the most effective tool against online fraud. They continue to issue advisories and conduct city-wide drives to inform citizens about the latest cybercrime tactics and the precautions they should take. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Indian Express
Drink driving surges with 3,235 challans till June — just 9% short of 3,561 cases in 2024
Drunken driving cases in Chandigarh are rising at an alarming rate in 2025, even as licence suspensions, acting as a key deterrent, have dropped sharply. This fall, experts say, has raised serious concerns over the city's traffic enforcement and its ability to curb repeat offences. Between January 1 and June 30, the city police issued 3,235 challans for drunken driving — just 9 per cent short of 3,561 cases recorded in the entire year of 2024 and exceeding 3,160 challans issued in 2023. Given the current pace, the city is likely to breach the 7,000-mark of drunken driving cases by December, more than double last year's total. In contrast, only 188 licences were suspended in the first half of 2025, compared to 800 in 2024 and 1,730 in 2023, a drop of 76 per cent from the previous year and nearly 90 per cent from 2023. This disconnect between rising violations and falling consequences has led to questions about the deterrent effect of the current enforcement regime. RTI activist and traffic safety advocate RK Garg, a resident of Sector 27, said the figures expose significant enforcement gaps. 'The drunken driving challans issued in six months are more than the consecutive period last year. At this rate, we may see over 7,000 cases by December,' Garg said. 'The fact that we have around 600 traffic police personnel on the roads daily, yet drunken driving remains out of control, shows enforcement gaps.' He identified key hotspots for drunken driving, including sectors 26, 9, parts of Sector 17, and the 35-36 stretch. 'Several suggestions have been made to install breath analysers and monitoring equipment at all exit points of these hotspots. While the police have agreed in principle, no concrete steps have been taken,' Garg added. He flagged late-night liquor sale hours and unpaid challans as contributing factors. 'People do not fear the law, and many challans go unpaid without resulting in license suspension.' Despite a sharp dip in overall challans this year, fine collection remains high. The Chandigarh traffic police collected Rs 19.71 crore in fines in the first half of 2025 — over 80 per cent of Rs 24.35 crore collected in the entire 2024. In 2023, the city had collected Rs 33.78 crore over the year. In terms of total traffic challans, 4,65,437 were issued from January to June this year. If the trend holds, 2025 may end up below nearly 10 lakh challans, issued annually jointly in 2023 and 2024, indicating either reduced enforcement activity or improved compliance in non-critical violations. Garg, citing official estimates, said, 'The city issues about 1 lakh challans every month, around 3,000 daily. Of these, around 20 each day are for drunken driving. We need a comprehensive review of enforcement strategies, stricter follow-up on unpaid fines, and immediate licence suspension to restore deterrence.' Calling for a societal shift in attitudes towards road safety, Garg added, 'Not just the administration, but society at large must step up. We need a mindset change. The city cannot afford to treat drunken driving as a minor offence any longer.'
Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- Indian Express
MC floats `49.89-lakh tender to repair potholes ahead of peak monsoon season
The Municipal Corporation (MC) of Chandigarh has floated a tender worth Rs 49.89 lakh for the repair of potholes and damaged patches on various roads falling under Road Division No. 1 of the Corporation ahead of the peak monsoon season, it is learnt. This decision came in the wake of multiple incidents of road cave-ins and surface failures reported across Chandigarh due to heavy pre-monsoon rains. As per reports, last week, a 35-tonne loaded truck sank into a caved-in stretch in Sector 43, Chandigarh, triggering concerns over the condition of roads in residential sectors and highlighting the urgency for proactive maintenance. The scope of the tender includes the use of ready-mix bituminous cold material for filling potholes and resurfacing affected areas. The work is to be completed within four months, and eligible contractors enlisted with the Chandigarh MC, CPWD, or other government engineering departments have been invited to participate through an e-procurement process. According to the tender document, the estimated cost of the work is Rs 49.89 lakh, with an earnest money deposit of Rs 99,786, and it outlines the requirement of prior experience in similar works, along with a valid GST registration, financial solvency, and technical credentials. Contractors are also required to maintain quality standards as per the CPWD norms and ensure the disposal of construction debris to designated processing plants. An MC official said that priority would be given to critical stretches, including roads around schools, hospitals, and high-traffic corridors. The move is being seen as an attempt to check the further road degradation and ensure safer commuting conditions amid increasing rainfall activity forecasted by the Meteorological Department. Civic groups and residents, who have long raised concerns about waterlogging and poorly maintained roads, welcomed the decision but stressed the need for long-term planning and durable repair solutions rather than cosmetic patchwork. The MC's Engineering Department has urged contractors to begin work immediately after the allocation of work orders and complete patching before mid-monsoon intensifies. The Corporation will monitor progress and quality under the supervision of its Engineering Wing. Meanwhile, RK Garg, a City resident and president of the Second Innings Association, said, 'With the city already grappling with road safety concerns triggered by recent rain-induced damages, this tender provides a timely intervention aimed at preventing further incidents and ensuring smoother urban mobility during the monsoon.'
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Time of India
4 lakh traffic challans issued in Chandigarh in just 5 months
1 2 3 Chandigarh: The UT traffic police issued close to 4 lakh challans for almost 4.3 lakh violations from Jan 1 to May 31. These violations were detected through CCTV cameras installed under the Smart City project, manual enforcement, and images of violations uploaded by citizens on the traffic police's social media page. Despite several measures taken by the traffic police to reduce the number of unpaid challans, the pendency reached 20.29 lakh by May 31. In 2024, UT police had issued 10,15,518 challans, of which 7,53,932 remain unpaid by violators. Traffic police officials have warned that failure to pay pending challans could lead to the cancellation of both driving licences and vehicle registration certificates. Data reveals that 50% of the total challans issued in the city over the past five months were for red light jumping. Until May this year, the traffic police had issued 2,03,459 challans for this violation across various parts of the city. The information was provided by the traffic police department in response to an RTI application filed by social activist R K Garg. After red light violations, the highest number of challans were issued to motorists for driving beyond the permissible speed limits in the city. In the first five months of the year, the traffic police issued a total of 49,426 challans for over-speeding. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Transition to high growth career in business analytics BITS Pilani WILP Apply Now Undo Also, 51,666 challans were issued for violations related to stop lines and zebra crossings at various traffic light points across the city. The traffic police also issued 21,318 challans to auto-rickshaws, taxis, and buses for carrying more passengers than permitted under their registration certificates or permits until May 31. Also, the traffic police wing issued 4,734 challans to two-wheeler riders, including women drivers and female pillion riders, for not wearing helmets. Data shows that 742 women were challaned for not wearing headgear while riding as pillion passengers, while 1,035 women were fined for not wearing helmets while driving two-wheelers in the city. The traffic police also issued a total of 3,872 challans for wrong parking in various parts of the city. Also, 2,831 challans were issued for not wearing seat belts in cars. A total of 5,693 car drivers were fined for applying black films on vehicle windscreens, while 325 challans were issued for triple riding on two-wheelers. After issuing challans, the traffic police notify violators through SMS. In cases where the SMS is not received, motorists can check for pending challans on the official website of the Chandigarh Police. Fines can be paid at the Traffic Police Lines in Sector 29, or through courts and Lok Adalats.
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Indian Express
20.02 lakh challans out of 35.93 lakh unpaid since 2019 in Chandigarh: RTI reply
A total of 20.02 lakh challans are still unpaid among the 35.93 lakh challans issued by the Chandigarh Traffic Police since 2019, revealed the data obtained via an RTI. In the RTI reply by the Chandigarh Traffic Police, over the past six years and four months (from Jan 1, 2019 to 2025 till May 4), 35,93,667 (35.93 lakh) challans have been issued across the city roads to vehicles registered in Chandigarh and outside, however a majority of the violators — 20,02,995 (20.02 lakh), have not responded to the fines, and just 15,90,672 (15.9 lakh) challans were paid by violators. In 2025 itself, till May 4, 2025 — 3,27,732 challans were issued by the traffic police, however just 71,00,85 challans were paid by violators. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) (Traffic) Sumer Pratap Singh said that the failure to clear the challans will result in suspension of driving licences and registration certificates, as been recommended by Chandigarh Traffic Police to the Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA), Chandigarh to act further against the violators who are habitual offenders. A list of offenders, who have been issued multiple challans, in the city has been prepared and the RLA has been suspending driving licences on the basis of this list. Also, a habitual traffic offender, will not be able to get PUC (pollution under control) certificate for his vehicle, thus attracting more challans and fines, a traffic police official said. Meanwhile, R K Garg, an RTI Activist in Chandigarh, raised questions on the issue stating that, 'there is urgent need to find out reasons for such an all-time high pendency of traffic violation challans'. 'The pace of payment of challans should speed up, otherwise the challans piled up will take several years to get cleared.' 'With such a large number of challans and less recovery, we still lack the safe and efficient traffic management. It is worrisome that fatal accidents have killed 8 persons per month and dangerous driving is on increase. The concerned departments must take a call unless it is too late,' added Garg. According to records, Rs 5.35-crore fine was collected from 3.25 lakh challans issued by the Chandigarh Police in 2025 till April. In 2024 — Rs 21.38-crore fine was received from 10.25 lakh challans, and Rs 26.26 crore from 10.32 challans issued in 2023. The maximum fine collected in the past five years was in 2022, when Rs 28.33 from 6.11 lakh challans were received, whereas in 2021 — Rs 15-crore fine was collected against 2.42 lakh challans. Red light jump, speeding top offences Three offences — red light jump, speeding, and driving without helmet, are the top three offences committed by the violators in Chandigarh. In 2025, till April — 1.55 lakh challans were issued for red light jump, 39,000 for speeding, and 3,100 for driving without helmet. Similarly, in 2024 — 5,00,952 challans were issued for red light jump, 1,47,663, for speeding, and 84,737 for driving without helmet, and in 2023 — 4,25,048 challans for red light jump, 2,06,276 for speeding, and 1,28,935 for driving without helmet, were raised.
