Case Title : In Re: Victims of Digital Arrest Related to Forged Documents
Dairy Number : 59769/2025
Date : 16.12.2025
In a significant judicial intervention, a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi suggested that the Central Government should formulate a scheme to provide compensation or redressal for victims of digital arrest scams. This suggestion came during the hearing of a suo motu writ petition (In Re: Victims Of Digital Arrest Related To Forged Documents), initiated after an elderly couple was defrauded of their life savings. The court’s directions include :
- Various government ministries are currently holding consultations, guided by the Attorney General, to review suggestions from the Amicus Curiae and the Court’s previous orders to decide on a formal course of action.
- The CBI has shared initial inputs with the Attorney General. The Court clarified that the agency has the liberty to request additional judicial directions at any time to ensure the investigation proceeds effectively and without delay.
- Addressing concerns that telecommunication providers are facilitating scams by issuing “SIM boxes,” the Court directed these companies to immediately implement measures to prevent their distribution and ensure stricter regulation.
- The Court emphasized that all relevant departments must evaluate the recommendations provided by the Amicus Curiae, particularly regarding support and systems for those affected by these scams.