The Supreme Court has ordered a nationwide investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the growing wave of “digital arrest” scams, a form of cyber-fraud in which criminals pose as police officers, government officials, or court authorities to extort money from unsuspecting citizens. The Court noted that these scams have escalated sharply, with victims — particularly senior citizens — being coerced into paying large sums under the false threat of imminent arrest.
Recognising the seriousness and spread of the fraud, the Supreme Court directed that all existing cases related to digital-arrest scams be handed over to the CBI. The agency has been granted complete freedom to probe not just the perpetrators but also any bank employees or intermediaries who may have knowingly assisted in facilitating suspicious transactions. The Court said that if evidence of collusion emerges, action under the Prevention of Corruption Act may be initiated.
The CBI has also been authorised to trace phone numbers, freeze fraudulent bank accounts, examine telecom-sector lapses, and coordinate with financial and digital platforms to uncover how these scams are being executed across state boundaries. The Court instructed all states and union territories to grant prompt consent for the probe and ensure their cyber-crime cells are functional so that information sharing is seamless.
The Supreme Court emphasised that the rising sophistication of such scams requires a unified response from central and state agencies. By assigning the investigation to the CBI, the Court aims to curb a widespread threat that exploits fear, impersonation, and technology to defraud citizens on a large scale.
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