Supreme Court: Digital arrest scams are ‘worst kind of crime’; no bail unless extraordinary grounds exist

Supreme Court Tightens Bail Rules for Digital Arrest Scam Accused

Strict Bail Criteria Established

Theindiapostdaily.com – On Monday, the Supreme Court announced it would deny bail to individuals facing charges in digital arrest fraud cases unless they can demonstrate “extraordinary grounds” that justify their release. The highest judicial body characterized these fraudulent schemes as the “worst kind of crime” directed at citizens, particularly elderly individuals, according to Times of India coverage.

A three-member bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, issued this ruling while dismissing a bail application from a defendant involved in a digital fraud matter. The defendant contended that his role was limited to assisting the primary suspect in opening a bank account, and he had already spent over twelve months in detention.

“In cases related to digital arrest, we will not grant bail unless extraordinary grounds exist,” the bench declared, as reported by TOI.

Recognized as Severe Offence Against Public

Through a directive addressed to all High Courts and trial courts, the bench emphasized that digital arrest frauds rank among the gravest offenses impacting ordinary citizens. The court highlighted how elderly people suffer disproportionately, losing their life savings and hard-earned funds during critical times.

“Digital arrest scams are the worst kind of crime against people, especially against senior citizens whose life savings and hard-earned money are fraudulently siphoned out when they need it the most,” the bench stated per the TOI report.

During the previous Friday, this identical bench instructed law enforcement and investigative bodies to apply stringent anti-organized crime legislation against individuals linked to digital arrest or cyber fraud incidents. The court recommended treating these offenses similarly to “robbery and dacoity,” according to TOI’s coverage.

Enhanced Monitoring and Coordination

The Supreme Court has been actively tracking the increasing frequency of digital arrest scams, with particular attention to those targeting older adults. Last year, the Court took special cognizance of cases involving senior citizens and directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to examine such matters nationwide.

The apex court also played a crucial role in creating a cross-departmental coordination framework among various agencies to tackle this growing problem. According to investigative agencies cited by TOI, victims have collectively lost more than ₹3,000 crore through these fraudulent schemes.