Top court restrains release of accused

Techie loses %32 crore

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Ina rare move, the Supreme Court Monday restrained the courts from releasing from jail the accused who had duped a 72-year-old woman advocate of the apex court of Rs 3.29 crore through ‘digital arrest’ fraud, saying the case warrants “unusual orders”.

“We have to deal with these cases sternly so that the right message is sent. An unusual phenomenon needs unusual intervention,” a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said.

Digital arrest is a growing form of cybercrime in which fraudsters pose as law enforcement or court officials or personnel from government agencies to intimidate victims through audio and video calls.