Supreme Court Action on Digital Arrest Scams

Supreme Court directive

Supreme Court Action on Digital Arrest Scams: The Supreme Court has issued a major directive empowering the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate the growing menace of digital arrest scams. The court emphasised the rising national threat posed by impersonation-based cyber frauds targeting citizens across multiple states. It also highlighted the need for a coordinated national investigation.

The court granted the CBI complete freedom to examine the possible role of bank officials under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, especially in cases where fraudulent accounts were opened to assist scammers.
Static GK fact: The Prevention of Corruption Act was originally enacted in 1988 to strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms in India.

State cooperation and jurisdiction

The Supreme Court instructed states such as Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Haryana to provide mandatory consent under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, enabling the CBI to conduct a pan-India investigation. This step ensures that the probe is uniform and not restricted by state boundaries.

Section 6 consent is crucial because the CBI cannot investigate within a state without explicit approval unless directed by a constitutional court.
Static GK Tip: The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act was passed in 1946, laying the foundation for the modern CBI.

Role of institutions and regulators

The court impleaded the Reserve Bank of India to help explain how banks use AI and machine learning tools for detecting suspicious accounts. This includes systems for identifying mule accounts commonly used in cyber fraud schemes.

The Supreme Court also directed major information technology service providers to cooperate fully with investigative agencies. This includes sharing metadata, communication patterns and technical information required for digital forensics.

Understanding digital arrest scams

Digital arrest is a form of cyber extortion where criminals impersonate officials from agencies like the CBI, Police or Enforcement Directorate. They use phone calls and video calls to falsely accuse victims of crimes and coerce them into paying money. According to official data, Indians lost more than ₹120 crore to such scams in the first quarter of 2024.

These scams rely on psychological pressure, fake warrants and staged interrogation environments. Static GK fact: The CBI was established in 1963 and remains India’s premier investigative agency for complex criminal matters.

Government initiatives to counter digital arrest

The government has expanded several mechanisms under the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to counter emerging digital threats. The Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) works alongside banks, telecom companies and financial service providers to track and block fraudulent transactions.

The Samanvaya Platform helps states analyse interstate cybercrime linkages using real-time data. The portal ‘Report and Check Suspect’ allows citizens to verify suspicious phone numbers, accounts or identities based on the national cybercrime database.

These initiatives strengthen accountability, support early detection and ensure citizens have accessible tools to report cybercrime.

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Supreme Court Action on Digital Arrest Scams: