The court entertained a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that brought attention to the fact that in contemporary times, fraudsters are fabricating court orders, summonses, and arrest warrants as part of schemes to deceive individuals.
The Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Central government, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and Delhi Police following a plea to address the rise in ‘new age cybercrimes.’ These crimes involve fraudsters forging court documents and impersonating government officials to deceive individuals.
The Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora directed the respondents to submit their responses within two weeks. The PIL, filed by Advocates Akshya and Urvashi Bhatia, highlighted the prevalent practice of scammers using fabricated court orders, summons, and arrest warrants to defraud people.
The petitioners, who had fallen victim to such cybercrimes, urged the authorities to establish guidelines for better coordination among agencies, streamline complaint procedures, and raise awareness about these scams.
The High Court had previously suggested a unified system for individuals to verify if they are under investigation by federal agencies and proposed that the Delhi Police create a central system for reporting online fraud through various channels like WhatsApp, SMS, or email. The next hearing is scheduled for March 19.
