Top court seeks states' data on cases of 'digital arrest'
	
		
				New Delhi, Oct. 28 -- The Supreme Court on Monday sought details of cyber crimes involving "digital arrest" pending investigation before all states and union territories as it considered a larger probe by one agency, preferably the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to examine all cases.
Giving a week's time for the information to be furnished , a bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said, "Let notice be issued to all states and union territories. The states and UTs are directed to file details of cyber arrest pending investigation in their jurisdictions." The matter will be taken up on November 3.
The court was hearing a suo motu petition on the growing menace of "digital arrest" scams -a sophisticated form of cyber fraud in which criminals impersonate law enforcement officers, intelligence officials, or judges to coerce and extort money from victims, particularly senior citizens, using forged court orders and fake proceedings. The fraud requires victims to stay connected with perpetrators via video call, hence the name.
On October 17, the court issued notice to the Centre, CBI, and the Haryana government expressing grave concern over the issue after it received a letter from a senior citizen couple in Ambala, Haryana, who were defrauded of over Rs.1 crore on the basis of forged judicial orders.
On Monday, the court read a note supplied by CBI which was produced by solicitor general Tushar Mehta. The Centre informed the court that the issue has three dimensions-financial, technical and human. Mehta said that in his discussion with the head of Cyber Crime Coordination Centre and senior officials of CBI it came to light that some of the perpetrators are themselves victims....
		
			
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