Cyber Cell wing helping save revenue loss of Rs 21 cr a month

The Maharashtra Cyber Digital Crime Unit (MCDCU) has been saving monthly revenue loss of Rs 21.3 crore of the media and entertainment industry by curbing and disrupting the web of online piracy ever since it came into being in 2017, a senior IPS officer said on Friday.

As part of its mandate, the unit, a wing of the Cyber Cell of the state police, has been taking down websites providing pirated content and protecting intellectual property rights.

Brijesh Singh, Special Inspector General of Police and head of the cyber department of the Maharashtra government, said MCDCU was launched to secure cyberspace.

He said the initiative was launched on directives of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio.

MCDCU was set up under the 'Maharashtra Cyber' project in August 2017 as first-of-its kind unit in South Asia to tackle digital piracy under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, he said.

"MCDCU has permanently suspended 387 websites that indulged in digital piracy," Singh said.

These suspended websites had over 28.5 crore visits per month, he said, adding MCDCU's actions have resulted in the media and entertainment industry saving revenue of Rs 21.3 crore per month which it had been losing on account of piracy.

In a span of just two years, MCDCU has been appreciated for achievements in protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), the IPS officer said.

Singh said the state government has come up with its own project, "MH Cyber", to deal with cyber crimes.

In addition, the Cyber Cell has also set up dozens of labs in rural areas to tackle the menace of cyber crimes," Singh said.

Balsingh Rajput, Superintendent of Police, Cyber Crime, told PTI that in order to disrupt the revenue chain of pirated websites, MCDCU had sent 66 advisories to 56 well- known brands and issued notices to 12 ad-networks."