The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Delhi Police in connection with an alleged “digital arrest” cyber fraud targeting a 75-year-old breast cancer patient. The court has directed both agencies to file a detailed status report within two weeks and has listed the matter for further hearing on August 13. The petition alleges that despite the registration of an FIR in April, the investigation has made little meaningful progress in what is described as a serious and organised cybercrime case.
The matter was heard on July 30 by a bench of Justice Girish Kathpalia. During the proceedings, the petitioner argued that the Supreme Court had designated the CBI as the nodal agency for investigating digital arrest-related fraud cases across the country. On that basis, the petition sought an effective and coordinated investigation. After the preliminary hearing, the High Court issued notices to both the CBI and Delhi Police, directing them to apprise the court of the current status of the investigation.
According to the petition, between April 6 and April 27, fraudsters posing as officials of the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) kept the elderly woman under continuous surveillance through video calls. They allegedly accused her of being involved in a money laundering case and threatened that her children would be arrested if she failed to cooperate with their instructions. Under sustained psychological pressure and fear of legal action, the woman allegedly complied with the fraudsters’ demands.
The complaint states that the victim first transferred ₹300,000 to bank accounts specified by the accused. She later pledged her gold jewellery to obtain a loan of ₹495,000. The petition further alleges that, under continued pressure from the fraudsters, she even entered into a sale agreement worth approximately ₹24 million for her house in Vasant Kunj. According to the petitioners, the accused systematically exploited the victim’s vulnerable mental and emotional condition, placing her under severe financial distress.
The petition also claims that the operation was meticulously planned. According to the allegations, the fraudsters sent a man identified as Sushant Kumar to the victim’s residence, where he allegedly collected the original ownership documents of the property. The petition argues that this indicates the accused were not merely engaged in online financial fraud but were also attempting to gain control over valuable property documents for further criminal activities.
The alleged fraud came to light when the victim’s daughter, who lives in the Netherlands, noticed her mother’s distressed condition during a video call. Alarmed by her behaviour, she informed other family members, leading to the discovery of the alleged scam. The family subsequently approached the authorities and an FIR was registered in April. However, the petition alleges that despite several months having passed, the investigation has shown no significant progress.
Appearing for the petitioners, advocates Kush Sharma and Niharika Tanwar submitted before the High Court that the case represents a highly organised cybercrime operation rather than an ordinary online fraud. They argued that the victim was kept under constant psychological control through digital communication over an extended period and urged the court to ensure an independent and effective investigation.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said that digital arrest syndicates typically begin by creating fear of legal consequences before isolating victims through continuous video calls and psychological manipulation, thereby weakening their ability to make rational decisions. He emphasised that no officer of the CBI, ED, police or any other government agency conducts a “digital arrest” or instructs citizens over phone or video calls to transfer money for the purpose of an investigation. He advised the public to immediately disconnect such calls, verify the claims through official channels and promptly report any suspicious incidents to the appropriate cybercrime authorities.
