New Delhi, October 27, 2025: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to all states and Union Territories over the alarming rise in digital arrest scams, directing them to submit detailed reports on all pending investigations related to such cases.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi asked states to provide comprehensive data on ongoing cyber fraud cases and scheduled the next hearing for November 3. The court also discussed the possibility of transferring the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure a uniform and coordinated national investigation.
Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench that the CBI was already investigating a few similar cases. “Please find out whether the CBI has the resources to handle all the cases,” the bench directed, emphasizing the need for a centralised response. However, it clarified that no formal direction would be issued before hearing from all states.
The Supreme Court had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of digital arrest scams, in which fraudsters impersonate police officials or judicial officers to extort money from citizens especially senior citizens by issuing fake arrest orders or fabricated judicial documents.
In a previous observation, the court had said that such crimes “strike at the very foundation of public trust in the judicial system and the rule of law,” calling them a “direct assault on the dignity of the institution.” The bench asserted that these offences cannot be treated as mere cheating or routine cybercrimes due to their serious implications for judicial integrity.
The suo motu action stemmed from a complaint filed by a senior citizen couple from Ambala, who alleged they were duped of over ₹1 crore after scammers faked a Supreme Court order to virtually confine the woman in a “digital arrest.” The fraudsters allegedly used forged documents bearing fake signatures of judges to threaten the victims.
Following this, the apex court had issued notices to the Union Home Ministry, CBI, Haryana Government, and the SP (Cyber Crime), Ambala, directing them to submit a status report on the ongoing investigation. The court also sought assistance from the Attorney General of India to assess the scale and legal implications of such scams.
The bench stressed that a coordinated effort between central and state law enforcement agencies is vital to uncover the full extent of this organized cybercrime network, which involves document forgery, digital extortion, and targeted scams against vulnerable citizens.
