New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognizance of the alarming rise in "digital arrest scams" across the nation, an online fraud where criminals impersonate government and law enforcement officials to extort money.
In a strong reaction to the criminals' tactics, a Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi on Friday issued notices to the Central government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), demanding their response on a coordinated plan to tackle the crisis. The Attorney General of India has also been asked to assist the Court in this urgent matter.
The Bench expressed its shock, stating it was "aghast" that fraudsters were brazenly fabricating and misusing judicial authority. The Court noted that criminals were using forged court documents, including fabricated orders purportedly issued by the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court, complete with fake signatures of judges and court seals.
"The forgery of documents and the brazen criminal misuse of the name, seal and judicial authority of this court and the High Court is a matter of grave concern," the Bench stated. It further held that such acts—specifically, judicial orders bearing fake signatures—"strikes at the very foundation of the public trust system on the judiciary," and therefore, "cannot be treated as an orderly or routine offence of cheating or cyber crime."
The Court's decision to intervene was prompted by a direct complaint from a senior citizen couple who were recently defrauded of their life savings. The scam, which occurred between September 1 and 16, involved criminals impersonating CBI, IB, and judicial authorities.
The victims were contacted via video conferencing platforms and telephones, where the fraudsters displayed forged orders of the Supreme Court—including a bogus PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) freeze order—to intimidate them. Under this severe threat of legal proceedings and arrest, the elderly couple was coerced into transferring a staggering ₹1.5 crores through multiple bank transactions.
The Supreme Court observed that this case is not an isolated incident. The matter is widespread, with media reports highlighting similar occurrences nationwide. The Court noted that two First Information Reports (FIRs) already filed in the cybercrime branch at Ambala, Haryana, strongly suggest a pattern of organised criminal activities that are deliberately targeting senior citizens.
Given the severity and national scope of the criminal enterprise, the Court underscored the need for a swift and stern response involving coordinated efforts between Central and State police forces. In addition to seeking a response from the Centre and the CBI, the Haryana Cybercrime police at Ambala has also been directed to submit a status report on the investigation into the complaint filed by the senior citizen couple.