From RBI SOPs to a Call “Kill Switch”: SC’s Plan Against Digital Arrest Scams

The Supreme Court of India initiated suo motu proceedings to address the rising problem of digital-arrest scams and evaluate the institutional response required to combat cyber-enabled fraud. A three-judge bench noted an encouraging decline in reported digital-arrest complaints but emphasized that continued monitoring remains vital. The Court reviewed the fourth status report submitted by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which outlined actions taken by various ministries, regulators, investigating agencies, and telecom service providers.

During the proceedings, authorities reported a substantial decrease in complaints registered on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, dropping from over one lakh in 2024 to thousands in subsequent periods. Institutional developments included a data-sharing memorandum between the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub and I4C, the expansion of grievance redressal portals across thousands of bank branches, and money restoration mechanisms functioning across all states and union territories. The Central Bureau of Investigation also registered multiple digital-arrest cases, including one major probe involving hundreds of victims and substantial fraudulent transactions.

To further strengthen defences, the Supreme Court issued multiple interim directions. The Reserve Bank of India was directed to formalize standard operating procedures for temporary debit holds on mule accounts and implement delayed transaction safeguards. Other directives ordered states and union territories to operationalise state cybercrime coordination centres, adopt the e-Zero FIR mechanism, and expand public awareness campaigns. Authorities were also instructed to explore technological measures, including a time-based call kill switch for audio and video communications, and to ensure expedited disbursement of recovered funds to victims.

Not yet reported: The text does not report the final judicial outcomes or individual sentencing details for the accused persons involved in the underlying criminal networks.