Supreme Court: Digital Arrest Scams ‘Worst Kind of Crime’; no bail unless there are extraordinary reasons | Today’s news
High Courtt on Monday said it will not grant bail to accused in digital arrest fraud cases unless it establishes “extraordinary reasons” to warrant their release. The Supreme Court termed such scams as the “worst crime” against people, especially senior citizens, TOI reported.
A bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohan made the observation while rejecting the bail plea of the accused in the digital fraud case. The defendant claimed that he only helped the main suspect open a bank account and remained in custody for over a year.
However, the court ruled that he was an accomplice in the crime and said, “We will not grant bail in cases related to digital arrest unless there are extraordinary reasons,” TOI reported.
‘The worst kind of crime’
In a report to all HCs and trial courts, the court said digital arrest scams are among the most serious crimes affecting the public.
“Digital arrest fraud is the worst kind of crime against people, especially senior citizens, whose life savings and hard-earned money are fraudulently siphoned off when they need it most,” the bench said, according to a TOI report.
Last Friday, the same bench had said that the police and other investigating agencies must apply strict provisions of the Organized Crime Act against persons found in connection with digital arrests or cyber fraud cases, saying they should be put on par with “robbery and theft”, according to a TOI report.
SC intensifies the intervention
The Supreme Court is closely monitoring the rise in digital fraud arrests, particularly those targeting seniors.
Last year, the Supreme Court took particular notice of digital cases targeting seniors. She tasked the CBI with investigating cases across India and was instrumental in setting up an inter-departmental coordination mechanism between various agencies to deal with the issue. People were deceived ₹3,000 crore, according to survey agencies, TOI reported.
