Supreme Court gives CBI "free hand" to investigate digital arrest scams
All states and UTs have also been directed to ensure expeditious establishment and operationalization of Regional and State Cyber Crime Centres.
Supreme Court had signalled extraordinary judicial intervention after being informed that senior citizens and even senior lawyers were targeted in the growing digital arrest scam.
The Supreme Court today issued interim directions to strengthen the hands of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in investigation of digital arrest scams.
"CBI shall have a free hand to investigate the role of bankers under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act wherever they are found involved in opening of mule accounts used in cyber crime cases", a CJI Surya Kant led bench ordered today.
The bench also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi has added that states which have not granted consent to CBI for investigations within their respective States should grant consent for the probe, so that the CBI can carry out comprehensive action on a pan-India basis.
Court has also issued notice to Reserve Bank of India and sought for its assistance on the issue of why artificial intelligence and technology is not being utilized to identify mule accounts and freeze them.
"All telecom service providers are also directed to implement the directions of Department of telecommunications on the issuance of SIM cards. Negligent approach of telecom service providers in issuing multiple SIM cards in one name, we ask the department to submit a proposal to address the misuse of SIM cards.", the order adds.
Last month, the Supreme Court had signalled at strong judicial intervention in the growing menace of “digital arrest” scams, with Justice Surya Kant observing that the matter “may require some unusual orders” to protect vulnerable citizens.
Earlier the Bench had expressed grave concern over the scale of the nationwide “Digital Arrest Scam,” observing that nearly ₹3,000 crore has already been extorted from victims across India. Justice Kant hadremarked that the situation is “very shocking” and warned that if the menace is not tackled with “iron hands,” it will only “magnify.” He had noted, “₹3,000 crores has been collected from victims in our country alone. We don’t know what’s the suffering at the global level.”
On October 27, the Court had 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. The Bench also issued notice to all States and Union Territories, directing them to submit details of similar cybercrime cases under investigation.
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: December 1, 2025
Bench: CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi