Supreme Court Grants CBI Full Authority to Investigate Digital Arrest Scams Under Prevention of Corruption Act

The Supreme Court has granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) complete authority to investigate bankers' involvement in digital arrest scams under the Prevention of Corruption Act, stating that the CBI will be the primary agency to investigate such cases.

The CBI has received unrestricted permission to access phone records, freeze bank accounts, and investigate bank officials connected to digital arrest cases.

Additionally, the Supreme Court instructed authorities under the IT Intermediary Rules 2021 to fully collaborate with the CBI during investigations, particularly regarding data sharing. These authorities must preserve mobile phone data for all devices reported in cyber crime cases and named in FIRs. The court also directed states to ensure approval for investigations under the IT Act, enabling the CBI to conduct nationwide operations.

Highlighting concerns about multiple SIM cards being issued under the same name, the court requested telecom operators to assist in the investigation. The Supreme Court has also asked the telecom department to submit a response regarding their plans to prevent SIM card misuse.

The CBI has been instructed to identify police officers from each state to assist with investigations, while Interpol's help will be sought for cases with international connections.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in the suo motu case, requesting its assistance in determining when artificial intelligence and machine learning will be implemented to identify suspicious accounts and freeze crime proceeds.

The Bench also directed state governments to establish cyber crime centers promptly and to inform the court if they encounter any challenges in doing so.