The order dated February 9, 2026 by Supreme Court has recorded that an Inter-Departmental Committee has been constituted to look into Digital Arrest Scams.
On December 1, 2025, the Court's order recorded that the Amicus Curiae after a preliminary examination
of the incidents brought to the notice of the Supreme Court, segregated these scams into the three categories: (i) Digital Arrest Scams – This is a category of cybercrimes where victims are led to believe that their hard-earned money is owed to a government authority, and as a result, they are subjected to coercive acts of extortion.(ii) Investment Scams – These involve situations where victims are induced to deposit large sums under the guise of lucrative investment schemes, only to be subsequently defrauded. Fraudsters routinely invent new terms to deceive their targets, and in some cases, the funds have been taken under the pretext of ‘advance tax’. (iii) Part-Time Job Scams – In these scams, victims are initially attracted with small, free tasks—for instance, posting positive reviews or watching YouTube videos—and later, they are persuaded to deposit large sums of money by claiming it is for ‘premium tasks’.
In Re: Victims of Digital Arrest Related to Forged Documents (2026), a Suo Moto Writ Petition (Criminal), Supreme Court's Division Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi had passed a 4-page long order dated October 17, 2025 upon hearing a the suo motu writ petition which had arisen out of a complaint dated 21.09.2025 received by the Court from a senior citizen couple, who have been defrauded of their life savings through a “digital arrest” scam perpetrated between September 3, 2025 and September 16, 2025. The victims alleged that they were contacted by persons impersonating CBI officers, ED officials and judicial authorities through telephone and video calls. The fraudsters displayed forged orders of the Supreme Court through WhatsApp and video conferencing. Under threat of arrest and property seizure, based upon those forged documents, the victims were coerced to transfer Rs.1,05,50,000 through multiple bank transactions. 2. The complainants have fairly disclosed that two FIRs bearing No.76/2025 and No.77/2025 have been registered at the Cyber Crime Branch, Ambala under Sections 127(2), 308(2), 318(4), 336(3), 338, 340(2) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, indicating a pattern of organized criminal activity targeting senior citizens.
The order reads: "3. Ordinarily we would have directed the State Police to expedite the investigation and take it to a logical conclusion. We are, however, aghast at the fact that the fraudsters have fabricated
judicial orders in the name of the Supreme Court of India and various other documents, including:
i) A “Freeze Order” dated 03.09.2025 bearing reference number F.No. EC/IRA/BZO-I/02/2025, purportedly issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002;
ii) An “Arrest Order” dated 03.09.2025 bearing the stamp and designation of an officer of the Directorate of Enforcements, Mumbai along with another Court stamp;
iii) A “Surveillance Order” with forged judicial signatures; and
iv) Various fictitious proceedings before the Bombay High Court and false claims of investigation by CBI and Enforcement Directorate."
It added: "4. The forgery of documents and the brazen criminal misuse of the name, seal, and judicial authority of this Court or a High Court is a matter of grave concern. The fabrication of judicial orders bearing forged signatures of Judges strikes at the very foundation of public trust in the judicial system, besides the rule of law. Such acts constitute a direct assault on the dignity and majesty of this institution, therefore, such grave criminal acts cannot be treated as ordinary or routine offences of cheating or cybercrime. 5. We are also inclined to take judicial notice of the fact that the instant case is not a solitary instance. It has been reported many times in responsible media reports that such like occurrences have happened in the past in different parts of the country. We are, therefore of the prima facie view that a stern action on Pan India basis with coordinated efforts between the Central and State Police are required to unearth the full extent of this criminal enterprise involving forgery of judicial documents, cyber extortion and cyber arrest of the innocent people, especially the senior citizens. 6. We, therefore, deem it appropriate to issue notice to: i) Union of India through the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs; ii) Central Bureau of Investigation through its Director; iii) State of Haryana through its Principal Secretary, Department of Home; and iv) Superintendent of Police, Cyber Crime, Ambala. 7. Having regard to the manner in which similar crimes are being committed, we request the learned Attorney General for India to assist the Court."