NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Monday said it is against grant of bail to anyone accused of being part of digital arrest scams, except when they point out “extraordinary grounds” which warrant their release from custody.Sending out a message to HCs and trial courts, a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said, “Digital arrest scams are worst kind of crime against people, especially senior citizens whose life savings and hard-earned money are fraudulently siphoned out when they need it the most.”When an accused pleaded that he had only helped the main accused in opening a bank account and that he has been in custody for more than a year, the bench said this made him an accomplice in the crime.
‘Equate digital fraud cases with robbery, dacoity’
Rejecting his bail plea, the bench said, “In cases related to digital arrest, we will not grant bail unless extraordinary grounds exist.”On Friday, the bench had said that police and investigating agencies must invoke stringent anti-organised crime law provisions against those found involved in digital arrest or cyber fraud cases. It had also said, “Digital arrest and cyber fraud cases must be equated with robbery and dacoity.”Last year, Supreme Court had taken cognisance of digital arrest cases mostly targeting senior citizens, tasked CBI to probe cases pan-India, and was instrumental in activating an inter-departmental mechanism involving different agencies to devise and implement steps to curb the menace. As per probe agencies, people have been cheated of Rs 3,000 crore through digital arrest and cyber heists.
