SC seeks MHA, CBI plan to dismantle cybercrime mafia

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Friday sought to know from the ministry of home affairs and CBI what pan-India action was required to unearth cybercrime syndicates extorting money from people, especially senior citizens, by threatening them with digital arrest.“We are of the prima facie view that stern action on panIndia basis with coordinated efforts between central (agencies) and state police is required to unearth the full extent of this criminal enterprise involving forgery of judicial documents, cyber extortion and cyber arrest of innocent people, especially senior citizens,” a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said. The order came in a writ petition registered suo motu by SC after a septuagenarian couple from Ambala alleged that fraudsters forced them to part with over Rs 1 crore by displaying forged SC orders through WhatsApp and video conferencing.

“We are aghast that the fraudsters fabricated judicial orders in the name of SC and various other documents,” the court said. The bench said ordinarily it would have ordered the Ambala cyber cell to expedite the probe but when judicial orders and judge’s signatures were forged with impunity, and the crime appeared to be spreading to many parts of the country, coordinated investigation was required. It requested attorney general R Venkataramani to assist the court in the matter.

“Forgery of documents and brazen criminal misuse of the name, seal, and judicial authority of SC or (Bombay) HC is a matter of grave concern. The fabrication of judicial orders bearing forged signatures of judges strikes at the very foundation of public trust in the judicial system, besides the rule of law,” SC said. “Such acts constitute a direct assault on the dignity and majesty of this institution; therefore, such grave criminal acts cannot be treated as ordinary or routine offences of cheating or cybercrime.

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