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Police scour cyberspace to locate Vijay Mallya website hacker

Even if they find the person responsible, they may not be able to take action if the hacker is based outside the country.

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It’s an interesting case involving technical expertise of a variety that is not quite common in the police force, and international rivalry that is all too well known. The Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS) at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has begun to undertake investigations into the hacking of Vijay Mallya’s website by suspected Pakistan-based hackers.

Director-general of police DV Guruprasad said that the CCPS has received files pertaining to the case from Cubbon Park police. The case was initially registered at Cubbon Park as the website had been created under its jurisdiction. “We are yet to go through the files. We will be able to delve into the hacking incident very soon,” Guruprasad said.

Police stations in the nation’s IT capital are not yet equipped to investigate cyber crime. The CCPS is meant to aid with the technological back-up required to investigate such crimes. “We are here to assist the local police whenever a cyber crime is reported. In fact, the amended laws relating to cyber crime state that any inspector can register a case under the amended IT Act. But in practice, many police stations are ill-equipped to deal with such cases,” a CID officer said.

On behalf of Vijay Mallya, K Majumdar had filed a complaint with the Cubbon Park police on August 16. The complainant said that the website was created with the purpose of dealing with public grievances. Its contents were updated from Vijay Mallya’s office at 3, Vittal Mallya Road.

The website was created by Marc Oliver Hausen, who is also responsible for the maintenance of the website. During a routine check on Independence Day, August 15, Hausen noticed that the original contents had been altered, the web browser title changed, and a crude anti-Indian message had been put up, with the flag of Pakistan displayed prominently.

Hacker’s warning
“The Pak cyber army was only sleeping, not dead… This is a payback from Pak cyber army in retaliation to the defacements of Pakistani sites! You are playing with fire! This is not a game for kids. We are warning you one last time; don’t think you are secure in this cyber space. We will turn your cyber space into hell… we gonna literally throw you in the deep sea… Will [take] revenge if any Pakistani site is hacked by Indians!” the Pakistan cyber army warning said.

Foreign hackers get away
If a hacker is found to be located outside the country, there are legal issues that make it difficult for the city police to bring him to book. International laws do not allow Indian police to go and get criminals from their country of origin. “We inform Interpol, of which we function as a nodal agency, and do the necessary documentation,”said an official. He added that unless there is a major issue concering international security, Interpol treats these as low-priority cases.

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