NEW DELHI, Apr 19: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will on Monday launch an AI-powered chatbot, ‘Abhay’, aimed at helping citizens verify the authenticity of notices and counter rising cases of digital arrest fraud.
The chatbot will be unveiled by Surya Kant during the 22nd D P Kohli Memorial Lecture, where he will also address challenges posed by cybercrime and the role of police and judiciary.
According to the agency, the tool will allow the public to check whether a notice claiming to be issued by the CBI is genuine, targeting a growing trend of fraudsters impersonating officials to extort money by threatening victims with “digital arrest”.
Officials said scammers have been using fake notices in non-existent cases to coerce individuals, often holding them virtually hostage and extracting large sums.
The initiative follows concerns raised by the Supreme Court of India, which recently observed that cybercriminals had siphoned off nearly ₹54,000 crore in various scams, likening the menace to “robbery or dacoity”.
During the event, 24 Medals for Meritorious Service will also be awarded.
The lecture, instituted in honour of D P Kohli, has been held annually since 2000 and serves as a platform for discussions on law enforcement, criminal justice and evolving investigative challenges.
