Kerala Crime Branch Seeks International Aid in High-Stakes Norka Hacking Case

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The Kerala Crime Branch has obtained state government approval to seek assistance from law enforcement agencies in four foreign countries in its ongoing investigation into a 2019 hacking incident involving the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (Norka) communication system. The hacking, which occurred between September 1 and 22, 2019, resulted in over ₹83 lakh in unauthorized international calls. According to officials, the Crime Branch will seek cooperation from the UK, Tunisia, Serbia, and Saudi Arabia to gather crucial information and bring the perpetrators to justice. The investigation, which began after a complaint by Norka, has been ongoing for several years, with the Crime Branch registering a case under sections 43, 66, and 66C of the Information Technology Act. To facilitate the international cooperation, the Crime Branch has been directed to initiate Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) requests to the UK and Letters Rogatory (LR) to Tunisia, Serbia, and Saudi Arabia. The MLA requests will be routed through the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, while the LR requests will require court approval. The Crime Branch Inspector General of Police, who is also the State Interpol Liaison Officer, has been tasked with overseeing the process, which is expected to be a complex and time-consuming endeavor. The investigation remains pending, awaiting crucial information from abroad to proceed. With the state government's approval, the Crime Branch is now one step closer to resolving this high-stakes case and bringing the perpetrators to justice.