Centre Sets Up High-Level Panel to Tackle Digital Arrest Scams, Informs Supreme Court

New Delhi, January 16, 2026: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that it has constituted a high-level inter-departmental committee to comprehensively examine the growing menace of “digital arrest” scams across the country. The submission was made during the hearing of a suo motu case initiated by the apex court in response to a complaint filed by an elderly couple from Haryana who were allegedly targeted by cyber fraudsters. Digital arrest scams have emerged as a serious form of cybercrime, wherein fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials, court authorities, or government personnel to intimidate victims through audio or video calls. Victims are threatened with arrest or legal action and coerced into transferring money, often under extreme psychological pressure. Recognising the scale of the problem, the Supreme Court had earlier, in December 2025, directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a unified pan-India investigation into such cases. In its affidavit, the MHA stated that the newly formed committee is chaired by the Special Secretary (Internal Security) and has been tasked with examining real-time challenges faced by enforcement agencies. The panel will also assess the recommendations of the amicus curiae and directions issued by the court, identify gaps in existing laws and regulations, and suggest corrective measures to strengthen the response mechanism against cybercrime. The committee includes senior officers from key institutions such as the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Reserve Bank of India, CBI, National Investigation Agency, Delhi Police, and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). The Chief Executive Officer of I4C has been appointed as the member-secretary, and the panel is scheduled to meet once every two weeks. The MHA informed the court that the committee held its first meeting on December 29. During the discussions, the CBI suggested introducing a monetary threshold for handling such cases. MeitY highlighted the need to strengthen the adjudication mechanism under the Information Technology Act, while the Department of Telecommunications stated that draft rules under the Telecommunications Act, once notified, would address issues such as negligence in SIM card issuance and the problem of multiple SIMs issued to a single individual. The panel also reviewed measures to provide immediate relief to victims. The I4C informed that standard operating procedures for freezing and restoring defrauded funds are under final consideration, along with plans to revamp the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and the 1930 helpline. The committee agreed in principle with the suggestion of victim compensation in cases where losses were caused due to negligence, deficiency of service, or fraud by banks or telecom service providers, observing that victims should not suffer because of systemic failures. Seeking additional time to deliberate further and consolidate inputs, the MHA requested one month from the Supreme Court. The matter has now been listed for further hearing on January 20. Centre Forms High-Level Panel to Curb Rising Digital Arrest Scams The Ministry of Home Affairs has informed the Supreme Court that a high-level inter-departmental committee has been constituted to tackle the growing threat of digital arrest scams across the country. The submission was made on January 15, 2026, during the hearing of a suo motu case related to cyber fraud targeting citizens. Digital arrest scams involve fraudsters posing as police officers, court officials, or government authorities and intimidating victims through calls or video conferencing to extort money. The Supreme Court had earlier directed the CBI to conduct a coordinated pan-India investigation after taking note of a complaint filed by an elderly couple from Haryana. According to the MHA, the committee is chaired by the Special Secretary (Internal Security) and includes representatives from key ministries, regulatory bodies, investigative agencies, and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre. The panel will examine legal gaps, operational challenges, and enforcement issues, while also reviewing court directions and expert recommendations. The committee has already held its first meeting and discussed measures such as setting financial thresholds for cases, tightening SIM card regulations, strengthening cyber laws, and ensuring quicker freezing and recovery of defrauded money. The Centre has sought more time from the Supreme Court to finalise its recommendations, with the next hearing scheduled for January 20.