The Supreme Court has ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the nationwide probe into the deadly digital arrest scam. Calling for urgent and coordinated action, the court said only a central agency can effectively tackle the sophisticated networks behind these high-tech frauds.
The apex court also asked the CBI to widen its investigation to include other online scams such as fake part-time job offers and fraudulent investment schemes that promise hefty returns but end up wiping out victims’ savings.
Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, Chief Justice Surya Kant said the CBI must also examine the possible involvement of bank officials in opening accounts used by scammers. He clarified that the agency has complete authority under the Prevention of Corruption Act to probe such links. If required, the CBI has been permitted to seek Interpol assistance and even travel abroad to trace global crime syndicates.
In a strong directive to tech companies, the Supreme Court instructed all social media platforms to fully cooperate with the investigation. The Reserve Bank of India has been asked to explore using AI and machine-learning tools to detect suspicious accounts and freeze cybercrime proceeds more swiftly.
Describing the method of operation, the court noted that digital arrest scams involve fraudsters posing as police officers or government officials, contacting victims over audio or video calls, threatening them with fake arrest warrants, and forcing them to transfer money to avoid “legal trouble.”
The court’s sweeping orders mark one of the biggest crackdowns yet on cyber fraud in the country — signalling that digital crime will now be met with equally powerful digital and legal tools.
