Supreme Court orders CBI probe in Digital Arrest cases

Supreme Court Orders Nationwide Investigation into Digital Arrest Scams

The Supreme Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to launch a pan-India probe into digital arrest cases, prioritizing these cases and other cybercrimes.

New Directive for CBI Investigation

• The CBI will first investigate cases directly reporting digital arrest scams.
• The agency has been given broad powers to investigate bankers involved in opening accounts for these scams under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Role of RBI and AI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been asked to explore using AI to identify suspicious accounts and freeze proceeds of crime.

Cooperation from Authorities

• The authorities under the Information Technology Intermediary Rules, 2021, have been ordered to cooperate with CBI as and when required.
• States that have not granted consent to CBI for investigations will do so to enable comprehensive action.

International Cooperation

The apex court has ordered CBI to request Interpol authorities for assistance as and when needed, considering the magnitude of these crimes and their potential to extend beyond India's territorial jurisdiction.

Key Directions

• The Supreme Court has directed the CBI to investigate digital arrest scams, followed by other categories of scams in subsequent phases.
• The court has given the CBI a free hand to probe the alleged role of bankers in opening accounts for digital arrest scandals.

Importance of Immediate Attention

The Supreme Court emphasized the need for immediate attention to digital arrest scams, stating that they require the premier investigating agency's attention.