Context:

The Supreme Court recently ordered the CBI to take over investigations into digital arrest scams across India.

About Digital Arrest:

A digital arrest is a form of online extortion in which fraudsters:

- - Impersonate officials from agencies like the CBI, ED, or Police;
  - Accuse victims of being involved in criminal or financial fraud cases;
  - Conduct fake interrogations over video calls;
  - Threaten the victims with arrest, imprisonment, or asset seizure unless they transfer money.

Once victims comply, the fraudsters disappear, often after extracting large sums via cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or digital wallets.

Over ₹3,000 crore has already been lost by victims, mainly senior citizens.

Why Digital Arrests are Rising:

1. Explosion of Digital Transactions: Increased online payment usage widens opportunities for fraud.

2. Low Cyber Awareness: Many users lack knowledge about digital safety and verification processes.

3. Technological Sophistication: Use of AI-generated voices, deepfakes, and realistic video simulations.

4. Weak Global Enforcement: Southeast Asian scam hubs exploit jurisdictional loopholes.

5. Psychological Targeting: Criminals exploit public fear of law enforcement and authority

Supreme Court’s Key Directions:

CBI Given a Free Hand:

· CBI to lead the investigation into digital arrest scams across India.

Override of State Consent

· Court directly asked States to grant CBI consent under Section 6, DSPE Act, which is rare and allowed only in exceptional circumstances.

CBI to Form a Special Multi-State Team

· Identify police officials from States.

· Include domain experts in cyber forensics, finance, and digital transactions.

· Conduct pan-India coordinated investigation.

Interpol Coordination

· CBI must work with Interpol to trace:

o International cybercrime networks,

o Global money laundering routes,

o Safe havens of fraudsters abroad.

RBI to Be Involved

· SC issued notice to RBI.

· RBI must explain how AI/ML technologies can be used to detect:

o Money layering,

o Mule accounts,

o Suspicious banking patterns.

Cybercrime Coordination Centers

· States and UTs must:

o Establish regional cybercrime coordination centres,

o Link them with the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C),

o Strengthen data compilation and preventive mechanisms.

Government & Institutional Response:

Initiative	Description
Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)	Coordinates with banks, telecoms, and fintech firms to track cybercrime patterns.
Blocking Spoofed Calls	Systems developed with telecom service providers (TSPs) to block fake international numbers.
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal	Citizens can report scams online at cybercrime.gov.in.
CERT-In Guidelines	Advises public to verify calls, avoid sharing personal data, and not install suspicious apps.
Inter-Ministerial Committee (May 2024)	Formed to tackle transnational cybercrime networks operating from Southeast Asia.

Conclusion:

The digital arrest epidemic exposes the dark side of India’s digital revolution — where technology designed for efficiency becomes a weapon of coercion. The Supreme Court’s direction signals an urgent need for coordinated action between government, law enforcement, judiciary, and citizens.