New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday directed all States and Union Territories to furnish details of the first information reports (FIRs) registered in connection with the rising number of digital arrest scams across India. The order came from a Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, which is hearing a suo motu case concerning the growing menace of such cyber frauds.
The Bench also raised the possibility of handing over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure uniformity in the probe, while expressing reservations about whether the agency has adequate resources to handle the vast number of cases reported nationwide.
During the hearing, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta informed the Court that the CBI is already investigating several cases of this nature.
“CBI is already investigating some of the offences,” Mehta told the Bench.
Justice Bagchi, however, emphasised that the Court must ascertain whether the CBI possesses the capacity to manage all such cases effectively. “Please find out whether the CBI has the resources to handle all the cases,” he said.
Justice Kant added that if the CBI required additional cybercrime experts, it should inform the Court accordingly. The SG responded that the CBI was already taking assistance from the cybercrime division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Concerns over CBI’s capacity
The Bench, recalling its experience in earlier large-scale investigations such as Ponzi scheme cases, observed that the sheer volume of cases could overwhelm the central agency.
“The problem is volume. We have seen this in Ponzi cases. The pressure on CBI was too much then. They wanted to offload some of the cases. Are you prepared for an exclusive investigation? And that is the extra outlay you might need,” Justice Bagchi remarked.
While the Court favoured a coordinated national investigation, it refrained from issuing immediate directions until all States were heard.
“We are not issuing directions today. We are issuing notice to the States to ensure there is a uniform investigation,” Justice Kant clarified.
Origin of the suo motu case
The Supreme Court took up the issue suo motu on October 17 after receiving a letter from a senior citizen couple who had been defrauded of ₹1.5 crore between September 1 and 16. The couple alleged that scammers impersonating officials of the CBI, Intelligence Bureau, and the judiciary had coerced them into transferring money by showing forged Supreme Court orders through video calls and threatening arrest.
Two FIRs were subsequently registered with the Ambala cybercrime branch, uncovering an organised racket that targeted senior citizens across States. Media reports also indicated similar incidents occurring in multiple regions, prompting the Court to classify the issue as one of national importance.
Earlier, the Bench had sought responses from the Central government and the CBI, and requested the assistance of the Attorney General of India. It had also directed the Haryana cybercrime police to file a status report on the investigation.
States asked to file FIR details
During Monday’s hearing, the Additional Advocate General (AAG) for Haryana informed the Court that several more FIRs had been registered in the State for similar crimes and requested a week’s time to submit details. The Bench granted the request and extended similar directions to all States and Union Territories.
“Besides the two FIRs, there are some more FIRs pertaining to similar crime in Haryana. AAG seeks and is granted one week’s time to furnish details of those FIRs. Meanwhile, we issue notice to all the States and UTs with a direction that details of FIRs registered in their respective States pertaining to digital arrest scams be furnished,” the Bench directed.
The Court clarified that States need not file formal counters but must provide the details of cases for record.
A growing cyber menace
Digital arrest scams have emerged as a major cybercrime threat, with fraudsters impersonating law enforcement or judicial officials to extort money from citizens through intimidation and fabricated documents. These scams often rely on sophisticated tactics, including fake video calls, spoofed phone numbers, and forged court orders.
The Supreme Court’s intervention aims to coordinate efforts between Central and State authorities to effectively curb this nationwide menace. The matter is expected to be taken up again after the States submit their reports.