The Supreme Court initiated suo motu proceedings against rising “digital arrest” scams, highlighting the criminal misuse of judicial authority and forged orders targeting citizens, especially senior citizens.
The Bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, took cognisance of incidents where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement or judicial authorities to extort money. The move follows a complaint by a 73-year-old woman from Ambala, Haryana, who alleged that scammers confined her through a fabricated Supreme Court order and coerced her to part with over ₹1 crore. The forged order was purportedly issued in the name of former Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna.
The Apex Court registered the matter as “In Re: Victims of Digital Arrest Related to Forged Documents”, underscoring the severity of such offenses. The Bench observed that “forgery of judicial documents and the criminal exploitation of this Court’s or any High Court’s name, seal, and authority constitutes a matter of grave concern.”
The Court further noted, “The creation of fake judicial orders bearing forged signatures directly undermines public trust in the judiciary and the rule of law. Such acts are not ordinary cybercrimes or cheating, they are a direct assault on the dignity and sanctity of the judicial institution.” The Bench highlighted that these scams are occurring across multiple regions, affecting innocent citizens and, in particular, senior members of society.
Emphasizing the need for a coordinated response, the Court directed that central and state police authorities work together to investigate and dismantle networks involved in producing forged judicial documents and extorting victims. Notices were issued to the Union of India through the Ministry of Home Affairs, the CBI through its Director, the Principal Secretary of the Department of Home, and the SP Cyber Crime, Ambala. The Court also sought the support and guidance of the Attorney General of India in addressing this serious criminal enterprise.
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