Business Today Net Special

Cyber-snoop

R.K. Raghavan, Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), first worked on a computer at around 1990. Today he is overseeing CBI's foray into fighting cyber crime. Raghavan spoke to BT about the agency's e-initiatives.

BT: There seems to be some talk of cooperation between CBI and the private sector regarding CBI's cyber-plans...

RKR: Yes, recently I met with some software companies like Infosys, Wipro, Texas Instruments, and a few others at Bangalore. The objective was to find out what could help us because we did not know much about cyber-crimes. Figuring out how to investigate these is a target we have set for ourselves, although it still does not form part of our charter---the IT Act does not give us any authority. But we are doing so because of the practice of the state police forces asking us to take over the investigation of some cases. So, we are providing for a future where if some major computer crime occurs in a particular state, and the state police is unable to handle it, we should not say that we do not have the expertise to handle it. That will speak poorly of a premier investigative agency like the CBI.

BT: What kind of help are you looking for from these companies?

RKR: First of all, we want the corporates to brief us about the nature of computer crimes, especially those that are prevalent today. They can also help equip ourselves in terms of the training required, and the requisite hardware and software. Some of our officers have been trained; some went to the FBI headquarters to study how exactly the FBI is going about this job.

We have also set up a cyber crime research centre (within the CBI). We have an officer for this in the South and another in Delhi. The idea is to gather as much information as possible about cyber crimes which we can then disseminate to the state police forces.

The companies I met in Bangalore were very forthcoming; they were excited about the prospect of working with CBI because they realise that cyber crime affects the economy of the country.

BT: Do you foresee a future where cyber crimes will take up more of CBI's time than conventional crimes?

RKR: Absolutely. I visualise a future in which conventional crime may take a back seat. With cyber crimes you don't have to move out of your house to make a profit; the risk of getting caught is lower. So, in the next five-six years, we may have to deal only with cyber crimes.

We have got a nucleus of officers who will be able to take up the task, given the incentive, given the motivation... So, when we take officers from the state police forces, especially IPS officers, I look for a technical background.

Our investigators have taken to computers like fish to water. Everywhere I go, the demand is for more computers. We have workstations in almost every branch. The next step will be to introduce the investigators to the nuances of cyber-crime. Over the next four-five years, almost 100 per cent of our officers will become computer-savvy, not merely computer literate.

BT: When can we see the first example of a joint effort by a specialist company and the CBI?

RKR: As I told you, we are disappointed that not many cases of cyber crime are being reported. I am sure it is happening. People are just keeping quiet.

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