Status of Policing Report 2026 Examines Bribery and Informal Networks in Cybercrime Redressal

The Status of Policing in India Report 2026, based on a survey by Lokniti-CSDS and Common Cause, reveals that 27% of cybercrime victims who complained to the police paid a bribe to get their cases handled.

The survey found that 51% of poor economic victims and 36% of rural victims reported paying bribes, compared to 12% of affluent victims and 24% of urban victims.

Paying a bribe or using personal contacts was associated with higher recovery rates, with 41% of bribe-paying victims recovering their full lost money compared to 12% who did not pay.