Supreme Court to Address Rising Cybercrime with CBI Probe into 'Digital Arrests'

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed its inclination to assign the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the task of probing 'digital arrest' cases, in light of the widespread and heinous nature of these cybercrimes across India. The term 'digital arrest' refers to fraudulent schemes where perpetrators impersonate law enforcement officers to extort money from innocent victims through intimidating audio and video calls.

A noteworthy case that has caught the court's attention involves a senior couple in Ambala, Haryana, who were conned into parting with Rs 1.05 crore via forged court orders. To combat these crimes, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi have issued notices to all states and Union Territories, asking for detailed reports on similar cases within their jurisdictions.

Solving these complex crimes is a top priority for the CBI, as emphasized by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. He highlighted that many scams originate from foreign locations, including Myanmar and Thailand, and often involve intricate financial, technical, and human networks. The court plans to monitor the investigation's progress, with its next hearing set for November 3, 2025.