CBI to launch AI chatbot ‘Abhay’ to verify notices amid digital arrest scam surge

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will launch an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot, ‘Abhay’ , on Monday to help citizens verify the authenticity of notices purportedly issued by the agency, in a move aimed at curbing the rising menace of “digital arrest” frauds .

The chatbot will be unveiled by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during the 22nd D.P. Kohli Memorial Lecture , organised by the CBI in memory of its founding director. On the occasion, the Chief Justice will also deliver a lecture on “Challenges of Cyber Crime – Role for Police and Judiciary” and confer 24 Medals for Meritorious Service .

According to a CBI spokesperson, the AI-based system will enable members of the public to verify whether a notice claiming to be from the agency is genuine. The initiative comes amid a growing number of cyber fraud cases in which scammers impersonate CBI officials, display forged notices, and coerce victims into believing they are under “digital arrest”, often leading to extortion of large sums of money.

“In several instances, fraudsters have misused the name of the CBI to intimidate citizens and extort money by presenting fake notices in non-existent cases,” the spokesperson said, adding that the chatbot is intended to provide a quick and reliable verification mechanism for the public.

The Supreme Court has recently flagged the scale of cybercrime losses, noting that nearly ₹54,000 crore has been siphoned off by cybercriminals in various scams and describing such offences as akin to “robbery or dacoity”.

The D.P. Kohli Memorial Lecture , instituted in 2000, honours the legacy of D.P. Kohli, the founding director of the CBI. Born in 1907 in Uttar Pradesh, Kohli joined the police service in 1931 and later headed the Delhi Special Police Establishment before becoming the first chief of the CBI in 1963, a post he held until his retirement in 1968.

The annual lecture series brings together eminent speakers from diverse fields to deliberate on issues related to law enforcement, criminal justice, and investigative challenges, serving as a platform for knowledge sharing and policy dialogue on modern policing and accountability.