Hyderabad: Over 1.44 lakh cases were settled and ₹25 crore were refunded to cybercrime victims during the National Lok Adalat held in Telangana on Sunday.
Massive relief to cybercrime victims
In a significant achievement, Telangana Police facilitated refunds worth ₹24.91 crore to 4,627 cybercrime victims through the Lok Adalat process.
Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) Director Shikha Goel said the initiative was carried out in coordination with the Telangana State Legal Services Authority, banks, digital payment platforms, and police units across the state.
Highlighting unit-wise performance, she said TGCSB headquarters alone ensured refunds of ₹5.64 crore to 87 victims. Malkajgiri unit recovered ₹4.79 crore for 832 victims, while Hyderabad unit refunded ₹3.99 crore to 553 victims. Cyberabad and Sangareddy units each facilitated refunds of ₹1.52 crore.
₹399 crore recovered since inception
The TGCSB has, since its inception, helped 53,434 victims recover a total of ₹399.06 crore. The recovery figures have risen sharply over the years, from ₹8.3 crore in 2023 to ₹183.9 crore in 2024 and ₹183 crore in 2025. In 2026 alone, ₹24.91 crore has already been recovered within the first three months.
The TGCSB director attributed this success to continuous coordination with banks and the judiciary, particularly in tackling UPI frauds, investment scams, and identity theft cases.
Public advisory on cyber safety
Shikha Goel urged citizens to remain vigilant against cyber fraud. She advised people not to share OTPs, PINs, or banking details with unknown persons and to verify customer care numbers only through official websites. Citizens were also cautioned against clicking on suspicious links.
Victims were urged to report cyber fraud immediately by dialing the national helpline ‘1930’ or filing complaints on the cybercrime portal. Prompt reporting during the “golden hour” significantly increases the chances of recovering lost money, she said.
Record disposal of over 1.44 lakh cases
Meanwhile, the National Lok Adalat also witnessed the resolution of 1,44,251 cases across Telangana, marking a 37.14% increase compared to the previous session held in December. The Adalat, initially scheduled for March 14 and later conducted on March 28, saw an additional 39,069 cases being settled.
CID Additional Director General of Police Charu Sinha said the Lok Adalat has emerged as an effective platform for amicable settlement of both civil disputes and compoundable criminal cases.
Wide range of cases resolved
The cases resolved included 21,388 compoundable FIR cases, 57,343 e-petty cases, 60,094 Motor Vehicles Act violation cases, and 791 disaster management-related cases. Notably, 4,635 cybercrime cases were also settled, with refunds amounting to approximately ₹24.95 crore provided to victims.
Hyderabad unit topped the state with 15,719 cases resolved, followed by Malkajgiri, Siddipet, Ramagundam, and Nalgonda districts.
Coordinated effort between the police and judiciary
Officials said groundwork for the Lok Adalat began on March 19, with police identifying eligible cases and issuing notices to both parties. The success of the initiative was attributed to strong coordination between the police and the judiciary, which helped reduce litigation burden and save time and money for citizens.
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