Archive · 1 Dec 2025
Supreme Court hands CBI digital arrest scam probe
The Supreme Court of India has given the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the job to investigate a big scam called the 'digital arrest' scam.
In this scam, bad people pretend to be officials, trick people (especially older adults), and make them give money.
The court said the CBI can look into bankers who helped in the scam and can use special tools to find and freeze money from these bad activities.
The court also asked the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to help find ways to stop such scams using computers.
They also told the states to set up special centers to deal with cybercrimes and to share all the information they have about these scams with the CBI.
The next time the court will talk about this is in two weeks.
The Supreme Court handed over the investigation of the 'digital arrest' scam to the CBI, granting it sweeping powers to probe the nationwide fraud.
The CBI can examine the role of bankers who facilitated the scam under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The court directed the RBI to assist in deploying AI and ML tools to detect and freeze suspicious bank accounts.
All states and Union Territories must hand over FIRs related to the scam to the CBI and comply with its requests under the IT Intermediary Rules, 2021.
The court asked the Department of Telecommunications to submit a proposal on regulating the issuance of SIM cards to prevent misuse.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), State Governments, Telecom Operators
- What
- Investigation into the 'digital arrest' scam
- When
- The Supreme Court handed over the probe on Monday, with the next hearing in two weeks
- Where
- India
- Why
- To investigate a nationwide scam involving fraudsters impersonating officials and extorting money from victims, often senior citizens
- Agency
- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
- Act
- Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA)
- Targeted Group
- Senior Citizens
- Next Hearing
- In two weeks
- RBI Role
- Assist in AI/ML deployment for fraud detection
- CBI Powers
- Access phone data, freeze bank accounts, probe bank officials
- Telecom Directive
- Prevent misuse of SIM cards
Sources
Supreme Court hands over probe into ‘digital arrest’ scam to CBI
Top Court Grants 'Free Hand' To Probe Agency In Digital Arrest Investigations
Supreme Court Orders CBI Probe Into Nationwide Digital Arrest Scam
