Digital Arrest Scam: Supreme Court Issues Notice to All States, UTs; Flags Pan-India Cyber Crime Network
Supreme Court handed over two Haryana FIRs to CBI, sought nationwide data on fake SC order and “digital arrest” scams; flagged cross-border syndicates operating from Myanmar and Thailand
SC issues notice to all States and UTs in “digital arrest” scams after forged SC order dupes 73-year-old woman of ₹1 crore
The Supreme Court on Monday proposed a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alarming “digital arrest” scams spreading across India after a 73-year-old woman was duped of ₹1 crore through a forged Supreme Court order.
The Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, which took suo motu cognizance of the issue, also issued notice to all States and Union Territories, directing them to submit details of similar cybercrime cases under investigation.
At the outset, Attorney General R. Venkataramani urged the Court to allow the CBI to take over the probe from the Haryana Police, noting that such crimes were being coordinated from outside India. “Money laundering gangs are operating from outside our territory, in several parts of Asia,” he said.
Justice Kant agreed that the scam’s reach was far wider than a few isolated cases. “We have noticed there are more than one instance taking place across the country. This is a very serious issue. All kinds of orders; judicial or enforcement agency, are being forged,” he observed.
The Court then directed that two FIRs registered at the Ambala Cyber Crime Branch be handed over to the CBI for investigation. It also ordered the Haryana government to submit within a week details of other similar FIRs filed in the state.
The Bench indicated that the case could expand to a nationwide probe. “We are inclined to entrust the matter to the CBI in respect to all States because this kind of crime may be operating pan-India, maybe even across borders,” Justice Kant said.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, supporting the move, termed it an “international issue”, recounting how trafficking and forced labour networks in Myanmar and Thailand were linked to such scams. “Sometimes people are lured with job offers abroad, then forced to generate funds after their passports are taken, they become human slaves,” he told the Court.
However, Justice Bagchi expressed concern about the CBI’s capacity to handle large-scale cybercrime transfers. “We have seen in Ponzi cases that the volume became so high that the CBI later sought to return cases to state agencies,” he cautioned.
Mehta assured the Court that the CBI, assisted by the MHA’s cyber division, had the technical expertise to manage the investigation. He added that coordinated, not exclusive, investigation might be the best approach.
The Court directed that all states furnish details of pending “digital arrest” or similar cybercrime cases and fixed the matter for further hearing next Monday, i.e. November 3.
Previously on October 17, the Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the alarming surge in ‘digital arrest’ scams. While taking note of the complaint, the Court had observed that the case discloses a pattern of organised cybercrime targeting senior citizens. Between September 1 and 16, multiple victims were contacted through WhatsApp and video calls, shown forged Supreme Court orders, and threatened with arrest under fabricated proceedings. The victims, under duress, transferred about Rs.1.5 crore through multiple transactions.
The Bench had expressed strong disapproval of the misuse of the Supreme Court’s name, saying it was “aghast” that fraudsters had fabricated multiple judicial orders, including a forged freeze order dated September 1 purportedly issued under the PMLA, complete with fake signatures of a judge, an ED officer, and a court seal.
Calling for stern and coordinated action at the national level, the Court issued notice to the Union of India (through the MHA Secretary), the CBI Director, the State of Haryana, and the Cyber Crime Department, Ambala. It had further requested the Attorney General of India (AGI) R. Venkataramani to assist the Court in the matter.
Case Title: In Re: Victims of Digital Arrest Related to Forged Documents
Hearing Date: October 27, 2025
Bench: Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi