Supreme Court Vows Strict Action Against Rs 3,000-Crore Digital Arrest Scams Targeting Elderly Citizens

The Supreme Court expressed its firm commitment to combat digital arrest scams, where cybercriminals pose as government officials to extort money from citizens.

New Delhi:

On Monday, the Supreme Court pledged to tackle "digital arrests" with "iron hands," highlighting the alarming scale of this cybercrime. These scams involve criminals impersonating government officials, police, or investigators to digitally "arrest" victims—particularly targeting elderly citizens—in fabricated cases to extort substantial sums of money.

The bench, led by Justice Surya Kant, revealed that approximately Rs 3,000 crores have already been extorted from victims across India. The court warned that ignoring this issue would only lead to its escalation and emphasized their determination to implement stringent measures.

Justice Kant announced that the court will hear all involved parties and appoint senior advocate NS Nappinai as amicus curiae to assist with the case.

During the suo motu hearing on digital arrest scams, Justice Surya Kant stated, "It's shocking that almost Rs 3,000 crores have been collected from victims in our country alone. We are determined to deal with it with iron hands."

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta described the targeting of elderly people as the "most pathetic" aspect of these crimes. He informed the court that the Ministry of Home Affairs has a dedicated unit investigating such complaints and requested time to file a comprehensive report.

The Court acknowledged the complexity of the issue, stating that domain experts would likely be needed. "This is a huge challenge. Something very shocking... We don't know how the technical and financial pillars are functioning. We need to strengthen their capabilities. If we falter or ignore, and don't issue strict orders, the problem will worsen."

Justice Kant mentioned that his office had prepared a brief analysis based on the sealed report from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which yielded some valuable suggestions.

After a brief hearing, the Court indicated that appropriate directives would be issued, and scheduled the next hearing for November 10.

During the previous hearing on October 27, the Supreme Court had suggested that it might task the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with investigating the increasing incidents of cyber fraud and digital arrest cases.

"We need a uniform investigation into 'digital arrest' cases across India," stated the bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. "We are inclined to entrust the matter to CBI... because the criminals may be operating across India... or maybe even from across the border."

The court had observed that "nothing is being done (to help such victims)" and issued notices to all state and union territory governments requesting details about digital frauds in their respective jurisdictions.