SC Takes Tough Stand On Digital Arrest Scams, Says Bail Only In Exceptional Cases

The Supreme Court on Monday adopted a strict approach towards accused involved in digital arrest scams, making it clear that bail should not be granted unless there are exceptional circumstances. Calling such frauds the “worst kind of crime” against senior citizens, the court said those who facilitate these scams cannot escape accountability.

The observations came from a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana while rejecting the bail plea of an accused allegedly involved in a digital arrest racket.

SC refuses bail, calls accused an accomplice

The accused argued that he had only helped the main accused open a bank account and had already spent more than a year in custody.

The Bench, however, held that assisting in opening a bank account made him an accomplice to the offence.

“In cases related to digital arrest, we will not grant bail unless extraordinary grounds exist,” the Bench said while dismissing the plea.

‘Worst kind of crime against senior citizens’

The Supreme Court described digital arrest scams as one of the gravest forms of cybercrime, particularly because they target elderly people and deprive them of their life savings.

The Bench observed that senior citizens are often cheated of their hard-earned money at a stage in life when they need financial security the most.

Earlier direction to invoke organised crime laws

The latest order follows the court’s observations last week, when it directed police and investigating agencies to invoke stringent anti-organised crime laws against those involved in digital arrest and cyber fraud cases.

The Bench had also remarked that digital arrest scams and cyber fraud should be treated on par with robbery and dacoity because of their organised and serious nature.

Supreme Court monitoring crackdown on cyber fraud

Last year, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the growing number of digital arrest scams, most of which targeted senior citizens.

The court entrusted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with probing such cases across the country and facilitated coordination among multiple government agencies to strengthen efforts against cyber fraud.

According to investigating agencies, victims have lost nearly ₹3,000 crore in digital arrest and cyber fraud scams across India.