The Supreme Court expressed concern over the increasing incidents of ‘digital arrest’ in the country and demanded a response from the central government.

The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of increasing incidents of online fraud in the country, particularly cases of ‘digital arrest’ of citizens through fake judicial orders, and has sought responses from the central government and CBI in this context. The court stated that such crimes strike at the very foundation of public trust in the justice system.

The top court has taken seriously the incident in Ambala, Haryana, where an elderly couple was subjected to ‘digital arrest’ based on fake court and investigation agency orders, and extorted of 1.05 crore rupees.

The bench observed that this is not an ordinary crime where the police can simply be told to investigate quickly and bring the case to a logical conclusion. Rather, this is a case that requires coordinated efforts between central and state police to fully expose the criminal enterprise.

The court expressed concern over the rising cases of digital arrest across the country and sought responses from the central government and CBI in a case registered based on a letter written by a 73-year-old woman. The letter informed that the couple was cheated by showing fear of court orders.

The bench stated that forging Supreme Court and High Court orders and judges’ signatures to digitally arrest innocent people, including senior citizens, strikes at the trust and faith people have in judicial institutions.

‘Digital arrest’ is online fraud where imposters falsely present themselves as officials of government agencies or police, accuse people of breaking the law, threaten them, and attempt to extort money wrongfully.

The top court said, “Creating judicial orders with fake judges’ signatures strikes at the foundation of public trust in the judicial system, besides the rule of law. Such actions are a direct attack on the dignity of the institution.”

The court stated that document forgery and criminal misuse of this court or High Court’s name, seal, and judicial orders is a matter of serious concern, and such serious criminal acts cannot be treated as ordinary or single crimes of fraud or cybercrime.

The bench said, “We are also inclined to take judicial notice of the fact that this case is not an isolated one. Media has frequently reported that such crimes have occurred in various parts of the country. Therefore, we believe that coordinated efforts and action between central and state police are required to fully expose the criminal enterprise involving forgery of judicial documents and extortion/robbery from innocent people, especially senior citizens.”

The bench sought assistance from the Attorney General and directed the Haryana government and Ambala Cyber Crime Department to file a status report on the investigation conducted so far in the elderly couple’s case.

This case was brought to the court’s attention by the complainant woman, who alleged that fraudsters presented a fake court order with stamps and seals between September 3-16, discussing the couple’s arrest and surveillance, and committed fraud of over one crore rupees through multiple bank transactions.

The woman stated that some people, posing falsely as CBI and ED officials while threatening to arrest her, showed court orders through several audio and video calls.

The top court was informed that two FIRs have been registered at the Ambala Cyber Crime Department under various provisions of the Indian Justice Code.