Government Forms Multi-Agency Panel to Address Digital Arrest Scams Amid Supreme Court Oversight

The Indian government has formed a high-level inter-departmental committee, chaired by the Special Secretary (Internal Security), to address the rising issue of digital arrest scams targeting vulnerable citizens, especially the elderly. The committee includes representatives from multiple ministries, law enforcement, and financial agencies, and has engaged with online platforms like Google and WhatsApp. The Supreme Court is overseeing the matter, with the Central Bureau of Investigation probing cases such as the recent fraud involving an elderly NRI couple in Delhi who lost nearly Rs 15 crore. Police investigations reveal complex money laundering through hundreds of mule accounts across states, with ongoing efforts to freeze assets and identify involved entities.