Mon Oct 27 06:55:33 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and rewritten news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
The Supreme Court of India, recognizing the widespread and sophisticated nature of “digital arrest” scams, is considering handing over the investigation of these cases to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the issue after a rise in incidents of online fraud, particularly those involving forged judicial orders used to extort money. The Court has issued notices to all States and Union Territories, seeking details of registered FIRs related to digital arrest cases. The CBI has suggested that these scams often originate from offshore locations, necessitating a coordinated and well-resourced investigation. The Court is actively monitoring the situation and considering providing the CBI with additional resources, including non-police cyber experts.
News Article:
CBI Likely to Take Over “Digital Arrest” Scam Probe as Supreme Court Flags Pan-India Threat
New Delhi, October 27, 2025: The Supreme Court of India is poised to entrust the investigation of rapidly escalating “digital arrest” scams to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing the magnitude and transnational nature of these crimes. The court took suo moto (on its own motion) cognizance of the issue following a surge in incidents where fraudsters are using fabricated judicial orders and agency documents to extort money from unsuspecting citizens.
The decision comes after a particularly egregious case involving a senior citizen couple in Haryana’s Ambala, who were defrauded of ₹1.05 crore through a sophisticated “digital arrest” scheme.
A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi has issued notices to all States and Union Territories, demanding details of all FIRs registered in connection with digital arrest cases. The Court will hear the matter again on November 3rd.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, informed the Court that these cybercrimes often originate from offshore locations like Myanmar and Thailand. The CBI has been tasked with presenting a comprehensive plan to investigate these complex cases.
“We will monitor the progress of the CBI investigation and issue whatever directions are necessary,” the Bench stated, indicating a commitment to closely overseeing the investigation. The Court is also considering whether the CBI requires additional resources, including cyber experts from outside the police force, to effectively combat this growing threat.
The Supreme Court emphasized that these digital arrest scams are not ordinary crimes that local police can easily resolve, but rather a complex web of coordinated criminal activity requiring a national-level response. The Court has previously stated that these offenses strike at the “very foundation” of public trust in the system.
First Piper 