IIPS scandal to end soon

The investigations being carried out by the Indore
police into the Internet scandal involving the International Institute of
Professional Studies (IIPS) students is likely to reach its final conclusion on
the incident's cyber crime angle.

Deepti Chopra, a lawyer at the Delhi High Court, is also
assisting Indore Police officials in investigating this scandal.

Chopra, who has carried out research on cyber crime at
the London School of Economics, has been quoted as saying that Cyber laws
President, Pawan Duggal, whose suggestions were being sought in this matter, was
of the opinion that this case was a case of cyber crime.

Media reports suggest that Indore Police are
investigating a case like this for the first time. Hence, it promises to be a
benchmark as far as implementation of the Indian IT Act, 2000, to curb cyber
crimes is concerned. The investigating agency has received encouraging response
from the Web administrator of the city that offered the free Web space on which
the pornographic site was hosted.

Chopra, probably the first woman to venture into
investigations of cyber crimes and implementation of cyber laws, feels that the
entire police force across the country lacks awareness on the subject. She said
that this was also one of the reasons for the snail-paced investigations into
cases related to cyber-crimes.

The IIPS case gains significance because if the
culprits, if any, are not booked under the relevant sections of the IT Act,
other cyber criminals will henceforth make a laughing matter of the IT Act.

In order to teach police, judiciary and fresh law
graduates about the various aspects of cyber crime and cyber laws, an institute
was being set up in the country.

She further said a book titled `Cybercops and Internet'
was likely to be released before the end of this month, which may go a long way
in guiding law enforcement agencies in dealing with various cyber crimes. “If
the police are well versed in this subject, culprits can be punished in time and
checks imposed on those utilizing cyberspace to leave mark of their destructive
mentality on the net,” she added.

On global initiatives being taken to curb cyber crimes,
Chopra was of the opinion that global laws to tackle the 'hawks' of cyberspace
will be framed at the global conference to be held in Europe in September, 2001.

(CNS)