India, March 25 -- The government has blocked over 83,668 WhatsApp and 3,962 Skype accounts linked to digital arrest cases, Union minister of state for home affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar informed Lok Sabha on Tuesday. In response to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mahesh Kashyap's question, Kumar said 781,000 SIM cards and 2,08,469 IMEIs have been deactivated as part of efforts to curb cyber fraud.

Digital arrest cases involve fraudsters posing as law enforcement officials to intimidate victims, falsely accuse them of legal violations, and extort money for their supposed "release". These cases, often operated through online communication platforms, have been on the rise, targeting unsuspecting individuals with fabricated threats.

Although the...