Expressing ‘grave concern’ about the escalating threat of ‘digital arrests’ scams, the Supreme Court proactively intervened on Friday, October 17, 2025. The apex court has since requested comprehensive responses from both the Union government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to address this urgent issue.
This judicial intervention was prompted by a disturbing complaint from an elderly woman in Ambala. She revealed that cunning fraudsters, impersonating CBI officers and even judicial authorities, had used fabricated Supreme Court orders to swindle her out of more than ₹1 crore. Subsequently, she filed formal complaints with the Cyber Crime Branch of the Ambala police in Haryana.
A Coordinated National Response Needed
Ordinarily, the bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi would have simply instructed the state police to fast-track their investigation. However, they were ‘aghast’ to discover the sophisticated nature of these scams: criminals were not only fabricating numerous judicial orders in the Supreme Court’s name but had also produced a counterfeit order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to freeze bank accounts. This fake document even bore a judge’s forged signature and the official seal of an Enforcement Directorate officer in Mumbai.
The judges emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “The forgery of documents and the audacious criminal misuse of the name, seal, and judicial authority of this court or any High Court is a matter of grave concern. The fabrication of judicial orders bearing forged signatures strikes at the very foundation of public trust in the judiciary and the rule of law. Such acts constitute a direct assault on the dignity of this institution and cannot be equated with routine cases of cybercrime.”
The court also noted that this wasn’t an isolated incident; similar ‘digital arrest’ scams were proliferating nationwide. To combat this widespread issue, the bench stressed the necessity for a unified national strategy. They called for ‘stern action on a pan-India basis,’ requiring collaborative efforts from the Central government and state police forces. The goal is to fully expose this ‘criminal enterprise’ that exploits forged judicial documents, employs extortion, and illegally detains unsuspecting citizens, especially the elderly.
Consequently, the court has demanded detailed responses from the Union government, the CBI, and the Superintendent of Police of the Cyber Crime Cell in Ambala.
Furthermore, Attorney-General R. Venkataramani has been asked to assist the court in understanding the operational methods of these crimes. The Supreme Court Registry has also been instructed to forward the original complaint and all supporting documents to the concerned authorities for immediate and appropriate action.