The Supreme Court initiated an inquiry into a series of fraudulent “digital arrest” schemes following a complaint from an elderly couple in Ambala, Punjab, who were swindled of more than Rs 1 crore from September 3 to 26, 2025. The couple reported that scammers impersonating officials from various government agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, tax authorities, and the judiciary, contacted them through phone calls and emails. The perpetrators utilized images of the Supreme Court and WhatsApp messages to deceive the victims into believing their claims, leading the victims to transfer funds in multiple transactions to prevent property seizure.
Authorities in Ambala have registered two FIRs with the Cybercrime Cell, indicating a pattern of organized criminal activities targeting senior citizens nationwide. A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi expressed serious concerns over the forgery of documents and misuse of the court’s authority by fraudsters. The Supreme Court denounced the fabrication of court orders, including a false asset freeze order, a counterfeit arrest warrant from the ED Mumbai, and surveillance directives with manipulated judicial signatures.
The court emphasized that these fraudulent activities pose a direct threat to the integrity of the judicial system and must be addressed as a severe offense beyond standard cheating or cybercrime. Similar incidents have been reported in other parts of India, prompting the Supreme Court to call for collaborative efforts between central and state authorities to dismantle these criminal networks. Notices have been issued to key officials, including the Union Home Secretary, CBI Director, Haryana Home Secretary, and the Superintendent of Cybercrime Ambala, to take decisive action against these criminal enterprises.
The Attorney General has been summoned to provide legal counsel on the escalating cybercrime issue, and a progress report on the investigations is expected from the Ambala Cybercrime Cell. The court has scheduled a prompt hearing on the matter following the Diwali holiday to address the growing concerns surrounding these fraudulent activities.