SC Tasks CBI to Tackle ‘Digital Arrests’

Syllabus: GS3/Cyber Security 

In News

• The Supreme Court  directed the CBI to lead a pan-India probe into ‘digital arrest’ scams.

What Are Digital Arrests?

• Digital arrest is a cyber scam where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials to extort money by instilling fear and panic. 
• It usually begins with a seemingly harmless phone call—such as a parcel delivery claim or KYC verification—which quickly escalates into threats of arrest, frozen bank accounts, or passport cancellation. 

Reasons Behind the Rise

• Exploiting public confidence in law enforcement through fear and intimidation.
  • Digital Vulnerability: Easy access to SIM cards, mule bank accounts, and spoofed IDs.
  • Target Groups: Elderly citizens, women, and professionals unfamiliar with cybercrime safeguards.
  • Cross-Border Syndicates: Organized networks operating like “Jamtara-style” scams, with international links.

Supreme court’s  Recent Directions 

• The court gave CBI full authority to investigate bankers involved in mule accounts and coordinate with States, Interpol, and online intermediaries. 
• It emphasized urgent action against cyber frauds, including investment and part-time job scams. 
• States were ordered to grant CBI consent under the Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, and regional cybercrime coordination centres were mandated to link with the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre.
•  The Court also criticized telecom operators for negligent SIM issuance and tasked the Telecom Department with proposals to prevent SIM misuse, stressing the need for a comprehensive, coordinated response to safeguard victims.

 Governments Steps 

• Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): Established by the Ministry of Home Affairs, this center coordinates national efforts to combat cybercrime and provide cybercrime prevention resources. 
• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: A dedicated portal allows the public to report cybercrimes, with a focus on cases involving women and children, enabling swift action by law enforcement.
• Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting System: Launched in 2021, this platform has successfully saved over ₹3431 Crore across 9.94 lakh complaints by allowing immediate reporting of financial frauds. 
• Cyber Forensic Labs: The National Cyber Forensic Laboratory in Delhi and the Evidence Lab in Hyderabad have significantly improved the ability of police to manage and analyze digital evidence.  

 Way Ahead

• Digital arrests, combining cyber fraud with psychological coercion, pose a serious threat in India.
• To combat them, authorities are focusing on public awareness campaigns, stronger technological safeguards like secure SIM issuance and AI-driven fraud detection.
• There is a need for  legal reforms to address impersonation and digital intimidation, international cooperation to tackle cross-border cybercrime
• Community vigilance is also needed to encourage citizens to report suspicious activity and preserve evidence.

Source :TH