New Delhi: Expressing “grave concern” over the alarming rise in “digital arrest” scams, the Supreme Court of India on Friday (October 17, 2025) took suo motu cognisance of what it described as an organised cybercrime network exploiting citizens by impersonating law enforcement and judicial authorities.
The apex court sought formal responses from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Haryana government, terming the misuse of judicial identity and forged court documents as an act that “directly assaults the dignity and majesty of the judiciary.”
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Elderly Couple Duped of ₹1.5 Crore Triggers Supreme Court Action
The Court’s intervention followed a letter from a septuagenarian woman in Ambala, Haryana, narrating how she and her husband were defrauded of nearly ₹1.5 crore by cybercriminals posing as officers from the CBI, Enforcement Directorate (ED), and even judicial institutions.
According to her account, the fraudsters contacted the couple via phone and video calls, displayed forged Supreme Court orders, and coerced them into transferring their life savings across multiple transactions. Following the incident, two FIRs were registered by the Cyber Crime Branch in Ambala.
Forged Supreme Court Orders Shock Bench
A Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi stated that while such cases would ordinarily warrant state police investigation, it was “aghast” to learn that the fraudsters had fabricated multiple judicial orders in the name of the Supreme Court itself.
The forged documents included an arrest order, a bank freeze directive allegedly under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and a surveillance warrant, all bearing forged judicial seals and signatures.
“The forgery of judicial documents and misuse of the Supreme Court’s name, seal, and authority is a matter of grave concern. It strikes at the very foundation of public trust in the judiciary and the rule of law,” the Bench observed.
“Such acts cannot be treated as mere cybercrimes—they are direct attacks on the dignity and integrity of this institution.”
Court Calls for ‘Pan-India’ Crackdown
The Supreme Court underscored that this was not an isolated incident, citing multiple media reports of similar scams targeting senior citizens across states. The Bench emphasised the need for a coordinated, national-level crackdown, directing the Union and State authorities to uncover the full extent of this organised criminal enterprise.
“A pan-India institutional response is essential,” the Bench stated, adding that the scam’s widespread nature “demands concerted efforts” across law enforcement and cybercrime agencies.
Centre, CBI, and Haryana Government Put on Notice
The Court issued formal notices to the Union of India through the Home Ministry, the CBI Director, the Principal Secretary (Home), Government of Haryana, and the Superintendent of Police, Cyber Crime Branch, Ambala.
It also requested Attorney General R. Venkataramani to assist in analysing the modus operandi of such digital arrest rackets and help frame an institutional framework to combat them.
The Superintendent of Police (Cyber Crime, Ambala) has been directed to submit a comprehensive status report on the ongoing investigation before the next hearing.
Next Hearing on October 27
The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 27, 2025, when the Supreme Court will review the submitted reports and decide on the next course of action.
