Chandigarh, Nov 15 (NationPress) In a significant move, Haryana Police, in partnership with the Legal Services Authorities, has launched an innovative system enabling victims of fraud to receive their defrauded funds directly through Lok Adalat. This new approach eliminates the necessity for a protracted legal process or the hiring of a lawyer.

This initiative is particularly beneficial for cases where funds were blocked right after filing a complaint, but where no first information report (FIR) has yet been registered.

On Saturday, Director General of Police O. P. Singh stated, "The primary issue in cybercrime has been that even when a victim's money is blocked, they often have to navigate the courts to retrieve it. Recognizing this challenge, Haryana Police proposed this straightforward and efficient model to the government and judiciary.

"Now, no victim of cyber fraud in Haryana will have to leave their rightful money to chance. Together, we have made sure that victims receive swift relief and justice."

The DGP urged citizens to promptly report fraud during the 'Golden Hour' by dialing 1930, enabling police to safeguard their hard-earned money.

The police played a crucial role in the implementation of this system, advocating for the inclusion of applications for the release or de-freezing of blocked cyber fraud funds under the category of Public Utility Services at Permanent Lok Adalats.

In response, the Department of Administration of Justice has issued an official notification, officially placing such cyber applications, where no FIR has been filed, under the jurisdiction of Permanent Lok Adalats. This means these applications will now be categorized as pre-litigation cases (PLCs), greatly accelerating the justice process.

Additionally, the police, alongside the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), have developed a standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure that victims can easily access their refunds. The refund process will proceed in four straightforward steps.

Firstly, a complaint must be filed; victims are advised to immediately contact helpline 1930 or submit a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.

The police will act swiftly to block the fraudster's account.

Next, the victim must submit an application to the DLSA by completing a simple form requesting a refund.

At this stage, the investigating officer (IO) will assist the victim in compiling the necessary documents and bank report.

Upon verifying the application, the DLSA will forward it to the Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat, which will conduct conciliation proceedings and issue the refund order within a week.

Finally, once the court order is received, the bank will promptly release the blocked amount into the victim's account.

The police and DLSA will ensure that the order is communicated to both the bank and the victim electronically without any delays.

Importantly, the entire process is designed so that victims do not need to hire a lawyer; they can apply independently with support from the DLSA.