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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Central government, Delhi government, Delhi police, and the Reserve Bank of India in a public interest litigation (PIL) expressing concerns about the rise of "new age" cyber crimes, specifically addressing the issue of "digital arrests."

The bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora called for responses from the concerned authorities on the PIL, which seeks directions for creating awareness and simplifying procedures to report cyber crimes.

The matter is scheduled for further hearing on March 19, 2024.

Advocates Akshya and Urvashi Bhatia, the petitioners, highlighted the evolving tactics employed by cyber criminals, emphasizing the misuse of court orders, including those from the Supreme Court, FIRs, and arrest warrants.

The PIL draws attention to the growing threat of "digital arrest" cyber scams, where perpetrators fabricate warrants of arrest to extort money from unsuspecting citizens.

The petition underscores the urgent need to address the rapidly increasing menace of cyber crimes, posing a severe threat and endangering the integrity of the criminal justice system. The petitioners reveals instances of forged and fabricated arrest warrants, raising concerns about the infiltration of such scams into the criminal justice system.

Additionally, the PIL emphasizes the lack of coordination among government authorities and urged the court to establish guidelines for better collaboration among authorities, facilitate swifter investigations, and prevent the transfer of proceeds from cyber crimes. The plea also highlights instances of criminals impersonating government and police officials, exploiting public trust.

Earlier this month, the court acknowledged the seriousness of cybercrime as a pervasive issue and encouraged authorities to enhance public awareness on the subject. The court emphasized the need for police reform and technology updates to effectively combat emerging cyber challenges.

The court had stated, "Suppose someone transmitted money. Money has to be blocked immediately. It cannot be done till you have a digital system in place. Otherwise, money will cross the boundaries of this country. You won't be able to reach it."

Addressing the prevalence of cyber crimes affecting celebrities, the court had urged the creation of dedicated units to handle such issues, emphasizing the necessity for the policing system to adapt to evolving challenges, with law enforcement officials being well-versed in new technologies.

Case Title: Akshya & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors.