New Delhi, Oct 17 (UNI) The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the alarming rise in “digital arrest” scams, where fraudsters impersonate police officers or judicial authorities to extort money from unsuspecting citizens, particularly senior citizens.
The move came after a 73-year-old woman from Ambala, Haryana, filed a complaint with Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, alleging that scammers used forged Supreme Court orders to virtually confine her and extort over Rs 1 crore.
The fake documents, she said, were made to appear as if issued by former Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna. Acting on the complaint, the apex court initiated suo motu proceedings titled “In Re: Victims of Digital Arrest Related to Forged Documents.”
A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, while hearing the matter today, expressed deep concern over the misuse of the judiciary’s name and authority.
“Forgery of judicial documents and criminal misuse of the name, seal and authority of this court or High Courts is a matter of grave concern,” the Bench observed. It further noted, “Fabrication of judicial orders bearing forged signatures of judges strikes at the very foundation of public trust in the judicial system. Such acts are not ordinary offences of cheating or cybercrime, but direct assaults on the dignity of the institution.”
The court emphasised the need for coordinated efforts between Central and state law enforcement agencies to uncover the network involved in forging judicial documents and extorting money from citizens, especially vulnerable senior citizens.
The bench issued notices to the union of India (Ministry of Home Affairs), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Principal Secretary (Home), Haryana, and the Superintendent of Police (Cyber Crime), Ambala. The court also sought the assistance of the Attorney General of India.
