SC moots CBI probe, seeks states' responses in digital extortion cases

New Delhi: Mooting "uniform" probe in all cases pertaining to digital arrests, the Supreme Court on Monday contemplated whether the CBI should investigate all such cases.

A bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi asked the solicitor general to find out if the agency has resources to handle all such cases. The bench said it would refrain from passing any final order in this regard without hearing the state governments.

It directed state governments to file details of FIRs filed by them with respect to digital arrest cases where cybercriminals impersonating law enforcement officials exhort money.


Solicitor general Tushar Mehta apprised the bench that CBI was already probing a few such cases. Justice Kant orally remarked that should CBI need experts for probe, SC should be informed. In response, Mehta submitted that "CBI is taking assistance from the cybercrime division of the Ministry of Home Affairs". Justice Bagchi added the "problem is volume". Referring to investigations carried out by CBI in Ponzi schemes, justice Bagchi said "the pressure on CBI was too much then. They wanted to offload some of the cases. Are you prepared for an exclusive investigation?"