The Supreme Court on Friday asked the central government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to respond in a suo motu case regarding the rise in “digital arrests” across the country. A bench headed by Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi expressed shock at fraudsters who often use forged court orders to trick individuals into handing over money, according to BarandBench.
It sought the assistance of the Attorney General and directed the Haryana government along with the Ambala Cyber Crime Branch to submit a status report on the investigation conducted so far in a case involving a senior citizen couple in Ambala who faced digital arrest.
What did the court say?
“Forging court orders with forged signatures of judges strikes at the very foundation of public confidence in the judicial system alongside the rule of law. Such action was a direct attack on the dignity of the institution,” the apex court said, according to a PTI report.
He further said that this serious crime should not be considered as a mere or isolated case of cheating or cyber crime.
“We are also inclined to take cognizance of the fact that the instant case is not a single instance. It has largely been reported in the media many times that such crimes have taken place in different parts of the country. We are therefore of the view that action and coordinated efforts are required between the central and state police to bring to light the full extent of the criminal enterprise involving forging of court documents, extortion/extortion most important people.” citizens,” added the bench.
How did the case get to court?
The matter was brought to the court’s attention by the complainant, a woman who claimed fraudsters created a fake court order, complete with a forged stamp and seal, authorizing the arrest and surveillance of an elderly couple between September 3 and 16 in an attempt to defraud ₹1 million through multiple bank transactions.
She said the warrants were served through numerous audio and video calls by individuals posing as CBI and ED officers and threatening to arrest the couple.
The vigilance committee was also informed that two FIRs have been registered with the Ambala Cyber Crime Department under different sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
