'What Kind Of People Believe They Can Get Arrested On Mobile?' CJI Expresses Shock At Digital Arrest...

The Supreme Court of India expressed strong concern during a suo motu hearing regarding the persistent threat of digital arrest scams across the country. A bench led by the Chief Justice questioned how educated individuals continue to fall victim to these frauds despite widespread public awareness campaigns and media reports, with a recent incident resulting in a victim losing ₹2.5 crore.

During the proceedings, the court and the amicus curiae discussed how fear and intimidation drive victims into compliance, with some psychologists comparing the experience to a form of hypnosis. The court also highlighted that targets could easily verify the authenticity of fake judicial orders by checking official court websites.

The Supreme Court strongly criticized financial institutions for inadequate safeguards and proposed holding banks liable to compensate victims and face prosecution if fraud occurs due to a lack of due diligence. Investigators and officials, including the Attorney General and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, outlined ongoing efforts involving the Reserve Bank of India to improve transaction flagging and rule-making.

Not yet reported: The articles do not specify the total number of victims nationwide or the precise identities of the perpetrators behind the scams.