नवीनतम
SC expresses 'grave concern' over digital arrests scams
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The Supreme Court on Friday took serious note of the digital arrest of a senior citizen couple, on the basis of forged orders of the apex court and probe agencies by fraudsters to extort Rs 1.05 crore, and issued notice to the Centre, Central Bureau of Inverstigation (CBI) and others after registering a suo motu case relating to digital arrests scams resulting into defrauding of senior citizens of their life savings.
The matter came up before a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi. The bench flagged the rising number of digital arrest cases across the country. The top court sought the response of the Centre and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a case registered as suo motu after the 73-year-old woman wrote to Chief Justice of India BR Gavai.
The bench asked Attorney General R Venkataramani to assist the court. The bench said the forgery of documents and the brazen criminal misuse of the name, seal, and the judicial authority of this court or a high court is a matter of grave concern.
"The fabrication of judicial orders bearing forged signatures of the judges strikes at the very foundation of the public trust in the judicial system, besides the rule of law. Such acts constitute a direct assault on the dignity of the institution. Therefore, such a grave criminal act cannot be treated as an ordinary or routine offence of cheating or cybercrime", said the bench.
The top court said it has been largely reported, many times in the media, that such incidents have taken place in different parts of the country. The bench said it is prima facie of the view that an action on a pan-India basis with coordinated efforts of the central and state police is required to unearth the full extent of this criminal enterprise involving forgery of documents, extortion/robbery of innocent people, especially the senior citizens.
"We, therefore, deem it appropriate to issue notice to the Union of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, CBI….SP cybercrime, Ambala", said the top court. The court noted the instant suo moto writ petition has been taken due to a complaint filed by a senior citizen couple from Ambala, who have been defrauded of their life savings through a digital arrest scam that occurred between September 3, 2025 and September 16, 2025.
The bench noted that victims have said that they were contacted by persons impersonating CBI officers and other authorities through telephone and video calls. The fraudsters displayed court orders of the Supreme Court through WhatsApp and video conferences, and under the threat of arrest and seizure of properties, got the victims transfer Rs 1,50,00,000 through multiple bank transactions.
The apex court was informed that two FIRs were lodged with the cyber-crime department at Ambala under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitya (BNS). The apex court also directed the Haryana government and the Ambala cybercrime department to file a status report on the probe done so far in the case of the senior citizen couple.
