Supreme Court Takes Suo Motu Cognizance of ₹1.5 Crore Digital Arrest Scam

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of a shocking “digital arrest” case in Haryana’s Ambala, where a senior citizen couple was defrauded of ₹1.5 crore. The apex court has directed the Attorney General to assist the bench in the matter.

The court has issued notices to the Central Government, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Haryana Government, and Cyber Crime Department, Ambala, seeking detailed responses. The Haryana Government and the SP of Cyber Crime, Ambala, have also been instructed to submit a full investigation report before the court.

The Supreme Court emphasized that strict and immediate action must be taken in such cases. It stated that fake judicial orders bearing forged signatures of judges severely damage public trust in the judiciary.

The bench also observed that this is not an isolated case, noting that similar incidents have been reported frequently across the country through various media outlets. The court underscored the urgent need for preventive measures and stronger enforcement.

The case involves Shashibala Sachdev, a retired Haryana Roadways auditor, and her husband, who were targeted between September 3 and 16. Cyber criminals posed as fake CBI officers, contacted the couple through WhatsApp video calls, and showed them a forged Supreme Court order. They threatened to implicate the couple in a money laundering case and kept them under “digital arrest” for 13 days, during which they extorted ₹1.5 crore.

The fraud came to light when the distressed couple’s health deteriorated, prompting them to inform their daughter, who later lodged a complaint at the cyber police station.