‘Direct assault on rule of law’: SC flags rise in ‘digital arrest’ scams, seeks Centre, CBI response

Hearing it, the Bench said, “We are also inclined to take judicial notice that the instant case is not the solitary instance. It has been largely reported many a times in the media that such like instances have taken place in different parts of the country. We are therefore prima facie of the view that stern action on a pan-India basis with coordinated efforts between central and state police are required to unearth the full extent of this criminal enterprise involving forgery of judicial documents and extortion/robbery and arrests of innocent people, especially senior citizens.”

The couple said in their complaint that they were contacted by persons impersonating CBI and IB officers, and judicial authorities through telephone and video calls.

The fraudsters displayed forged orders of the top court through WhatsApp and video conferencing, threatening arrest and property seizure, and coerced the couple into transferring money through multiple transactions between September 3 and 16.

Two FIRs were registered at the Cyber Crime Branch, Ambala, in this connection.

The court said, “Ordinarily we would have directed the state police to expedite the investigation and take the case to its logical conclusion. We are, however, aghast by the fact that the fraudsters have fabricated multiple judicial orders in the name of the Supreme Court, including a freeze order dated September 3 purportedly issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, an arrest order dated September 3 bearing the stamp and designation of an officer of ED, Mumbai, along with a court stamp, a surveillance order with forged judicial signatures, and various fictitious proceedings before the Mumbai High Court and false claims of investigation by CBI and ED.”

It said, “the forgery of documents and the brazen criminal misuse of the name, seal, and judicial authority of this Court or High Court is a matter of grave concern”.

“The fabrication of judicial orders bearing forged signatures of the judges strikes at the very foundation of public trust in the judicial system besides the rule of law. Such action constitutes a direct assault on the dignity and majesty of the institution. Therefore, such grave criminal acts cannot be treated as an ordinary or routine offence of cheating or cybercrime,” the court said. The Bench also issued notice to the Principal Secretary, Home Department of Haryana, and the Superintendent of Police, Cyber Crime, Ambala, and sought a report on the status of the investigation from the latter.

Having regard to the nature of the crimes, the court also requested the assistance of Attorney General R Venkataramani in the matter.

The court will hear the matter next on October 27.

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