Cybercrime under the Information Technology Act (IT Act) in India can be investigated primarily by police officers not below the rank of Inspector, as per Section 78 of the IT Act. These investigations are conducted by:
- Local police and specialized Cyber Crime Cells at the district level.
- State Police Cyber Crime Units, which handle more complex cases with advanced technical and forensic capabilities.
- The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, which coordinates cybercrime investigation efforts nationally.
- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Cyber Crime Cell for interstate and organized crimes with national security implications.
- Other entities like CERT-In provide technical assistance but do not conduct investigations themselves.
Investigations begin with registering a First Information Report (FIR) at local police or specialized cyber cells or via the national cybercrime reporting portal. The investigation follows procedures defined under the IT Act, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Indian Evidence Act to collect, analyze, and preserve electronic evidence.
Thus, cybercrime investigations under the IT Act are primarily carried out by designated police officers and specialized law enforcement agencies supported by coordination centers and technical units.
