SC entrusts CBI with pan-Indian probe into digital arrest cases

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take charge of the probe into digital arrest scams across India, flagging the issue as a matter requiring “immediate attention”.

- BHAVINI MISHRA

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJ) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ordered that the agency treat such scams sits first priority while dealing with cybercrimes that also include investment and part-time job frauds. The direction came in a suo motu case taken up by the court in October to address the rise in online extortion rackets.

“Digital arrest scams require immediate attention of the premier investigating agency of the country. Therefore, we proceed with a clear direction that the CBI shall firstly investigate cases on digital arrest scams. The other categories of scams shall be taken up in the next stages,” the court ordered.

The bench noted that these scams involve impersonation of law enforcement officials, and coercion of victims — often senior citizens — into transferring large sums of money under threat of arrest.