Introduction:

The Delhi High Court has issued a notice on a public interest litigation (PIL) addressing the alarming rise in cyber crimes, particularly focusing on “digital arrest” scams. The PIL, filed by lawyers Akshya and Urvashi Bhatia, targets the proliferation of impostors forging fake judicial orders and arrest warrants to extort money from innocent citizens. The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora sought responses from the Union Government, Delhi Government, Delhi Police, and Reserve Bank of India (RBI), emphasizing the need for urgent attention to combat evolving forms of cyber scams.

Arguments of Both Sides:

The petitioners, Akshya and Urvashi Bhatia, highlight the inadequacy of the current mechanism for reporting complaints with Delhi Police’s Cyber Crime Unit to tackle the escalating cybercrime threats. They draw attention to the ‘digital arrest’ scam, a new and perilous form of skullduggery where impostors use forged court orders and arrest warrants to extort money. The plea contends that the websites of Central and State cyber cells lack activity and fail to increase public awareness about the latest cybercrimes. The petitioners assert that authorities should run awareness campaigns and simplify the procedure for reporting cybercrime complaints.

The court, in an earlier hearing, expressed the need for the policing system to reform and adopt a simple complaint filing system to address the challenges posed by new forms of cybercrimes. The bench emphasized the importance of creating dedicated units and ensuring that law enforcement personnel are well-versed in dealing with cybercrimes.

Court’s Judgement:

The Delhi High Court, acknowledging the severity of ‘digital arrest’ scams and the broader issue of cybercrimes, has issued a notice to the Union Government, Delhi Government, Delhi Police, and RBI. The court has underscored the urgency of addressing these evolving challenges and has listed the matter for further hearing on March 19. The judiciary’s proactive stance in taking suo motu cognizance demonstrates a commitment to tackling cybercrimes and protecting citizens from emerging threats.