The Supreme Court on Friday raised the alarm over a disturbing surge in what it termed “digital arrests”, a form of cyber fraud where victims are duped through fabricated court orders and impersonations of judicial officers. Taking suo motu cognisance of such cases, the apex court warned that these crimes threaten the very foundation of public faith in India’s judicial system.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi sought detailed responses from the Union government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after hearing of an alarming case in Haryana’s Ambala, where a senior citizen couple was allegedly “digitally arrested” through forged judicial documents and extorted of Rs 1.05 crore.
The case came to light when a 73-year-old woman wrote to Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on 21 September, narrating how she and her husband were harassed by fraudsters posing as officers of the CBI, Enforcement Directorate, and even the judiciary. The scamsters reportedly used video and audio calls to show the couple fabricated court orders, complete with forged signatures and seals, authorising their surveillance and arrest between 3 and 16 September.
“The fabrication of judicial orders bearing forged signatures of judges strikes at the very foundation of the public trust in the judicial system besides the rule of law. Such action constituted direct assault on the dignity of the institution,” the bench observed.
Describing the crime as unprecedented in scale and implication, the court said this was “no ordinary crime” that could be left to local police to investigate. Instead, it called for a coordinated response between central and state police forces to expose the “full extent of the criminal enterprise”.
“We are also inclined to take judicial notice of the fact that the instance case is not the sole instance. It has been largely reported many times in the media that such crimes have taken place in different parts of the country,” the bench said, stressing that the matter could not be dismissed as a solitary cyber offence.
The court directed the Haryana government and the Ambala cyber crime department to submit a status report on the progress of the investigation. It also sought the assistance of the Attorney General to facilitate a broader probe into the nexus enabling such digital frauds.
According to the woman’s complaint, the fraudsters displayed counterfeit court documents during the online interactions to convince the couple that legal action had been initiated against them. Under the pretext of clearing their names, the couple was coerced into transferring over Rs 1 crore through multiple bank transactions.
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Two First Information Reports (FIRs) were later registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Ambala’s cyber crime police station. The bench noted that the case represented a new frontier of cybercrime, one that maliciously exploits the name, seal, and institutional authority of India’s highest courts.
“The forgery of documents and the criminal misuse of the name, seal and judicial orders of this court or high court is a matter of grave concern and such a grave criminal act cannot be treated as an ordinary or solitary offence of cheating or cyber crime,” the court said.
The justices highlighted the gravity of impersonating judicial officers, observing that these schemes not only defraud individuals but also erode the sanctity of judicial authority. “Forging apex court and high court orders, signatures of judges to digitally arrest innocent people, including senior citizens, strikes at the bottom of trust and faith of people in judicial institutions,” the bench remarked.
The court’s intervention follows a growing number of media reports highlighting similar scams across India, where unsuspecting citizens have been tricked into transferring large sums of money after being threatened with false legal action. Many victims reported being shown purported “warrants” or “summons” via video calls, often featuring forged emblems of the Supreme Court, CBI, or police agencies.
Cybercrime experts say such incidents reflect the increasing sophistication of digital extortion networks operating across borders. The Supreme Court’s suo motu action could, therefore, serve as a crucial turning point in shaping a coordinated national response to such frauds.
By demanding accountability from both the Centre and investigative agencies, the court has effectively recognised the menace as not merely technological, but institutional, one that endangers public trust in law enforcement and the justice system alike.
As the probe widens, the judiciary’s stance signals that crimes which exploit the credibility of judicial institutions will be treated with the utmost seriousness and pursued with the full force of law.
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