SC Orders CBI Probe Into Digital Arrest Scams
The Supreme Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to conduct a nationwide investigation into rising “digital arrest” scams, where fraudsters pose as police or government officials and force victims to transfer money. The Court said the scale and sophistication of these scams call for central coordination.
States Asked to Grant Consent for Unified Inquiry
Since the CBI requires state consent to operate within their jurisdictions, the Supreme Court asked all states and Union Territories to immediately grant approval so that the probe does not face delays. The Court stressed that cross-border cybercrime cannot be effectively tackled through isolated state-level investigations.
Telecom Firms, Banks, and Intermediaries Told to Assist
The Supreme Court also directed telecom service providers, banks and online intermediaries to cooperate fully with investigators. They have been asked to share data on suspicious phone numbers, fraudulent accounts and digital footprints linked to scam networks.
Court Questions RBI on Slow Fraud Detection
The bench questioned the Reserve Bank of India on why AI-based monitoring tools are not being used to freeze fraudulent accounts quickly. It said regulators must adopt modern systems to stop scammers from exploiting banking and telecom infrastructure.
