Supreme Court Steps In: Takes Suo Motu Cognisance of ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam, Seeks Response from Centre and CBI

Supreme Court Steps In: Takes Suo Motu Cognisance of ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam, Seeks Response from Centre and CBI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognisance of the rising ‘Digital Arrest’ scam, where cybercriminals impersonate law enforcement officials and use fake court orders to extort money from unsuspecting citizens.

The court’s decision follows a complaint from a senior citizen couple, who reportedly lost their entire life savings of ₹1.5 crore after being threatened with arrest by fraudsters posing as officials from the CBI, Intelligence Bureau, and judiciary.

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The criminals allegedly contacted the victims through video calls and messaging apps, showing forged Supreme Court orders to collect payment from victims.

A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi expressed deep concern over the growing trend of such scams, noting that fraudsters are now fabricating official documents, including those bearing forged judicial signatures and court stamps, to deceive victims.

The court remarked, “Ordinarily, we would have directed the state police to expedite the investigation. However, we are aghast that the fraudsters have fabricated multiple judicial orders in the name of the Supreme Court of India.”

Issuing notices to the Central Government and the CBI, the bench also sought the assistance of the Attorney General, underlining the seriousness of the issue. The Supreme Court also mentioned that such crimes cannot be treated as “routine cyber offences” but must be tackled as grave criminal acts undermining the integrity of judicial institutions.

The case highlights a disturbing rise in ‘digital arrest’ scams, where fraudsters use fear, fake authority, and modern technology to exploit victims.

The Supreme Court’s intervention is expected to push for a coordinated national response to curb such digital fraud and restore public confidence in the digital ecosystem.