SC seeks response from all States, UTs on ‘digital arrest’ scams; hints at possible CBI probe

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to all states and Union Territories, calling for detailed information on investigations and pending cases related to the rising cases of ‘digital arrest’ scams — a cybercrime trend where fraudsters impersonate police, enforcement, or judicial officers to extort money from citizens under threats of arrest or property seizure.

A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed all States to submit the number of such cases currently under investigation and fixed November 3 for the next hearing.

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The Court also indicated that it might consider entrusting the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure a coordinated national-level investigation. “Please find out whether the CBI has the resources to handle all the cases,” the Bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Centre and informed that the agency was already handling a few such cases. “We are looking at a uniform probe across the country but will not issue any direction today without hearing from the States,” the Bench observed.

Earlier, on October 17, 2025, the top court had taken suo motu cognisance of a complaint filed by a senior citizen couple from Ambala, Haryana, who were duped of ₹1.05 crore between September 3 and 16, 2025. The couple was allegedly contacted by impostors posing as officials of the CBI, Enforcement Directorate, and even the Supreme Court, who displayed forged judicial orders via video calls and WhatsApp to coerce them into transferring funds.

Following the incident, two FIRs were registered at the Cyber Crime Branch, Ambala, under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, what the Court described as “organised criminal activity targeting senior citizens.”

In its October 17 order, the Court had expressed deep concern over the fabrication of Supreme Court orders and the use of forged judicial signatures, calling it “a direct assault on the dignity and majesty of this institution.” The order stated that such offences “strike at the very foundation of public trust in the judicial system and the rule of law.”

The Court said: “The forgery of documents and the brazen criminal misuse of the name, seal, and judicial authority of this Court or a High Court is a matter of grave concern. Such acts constitute a direct assault on the dignity and majesty of this institution and cannot be treated as ordinary or routine offences of cheating or cybercrime.”

The Bench also observed that the Ambala case was not an isolated episode, citing several reports of similar scams from different parts of the country. “A stern, coordinated pan-India action between the Central and State police is required to expose the full extent of this criminal enterprise involving forgery of judicial documents, cyber extortion, and cyber arrest of innocent citizens, especially senior citizens,” the order stated.