oppn parties Digital Arrest Scam: Still Going Strong, Due To Fear & Ignorance Of Law

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  • Neha Bora was subsequently released and Dipke is to appear before a magistrate today at noon
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  • The Reserve Bank of India is considering further monetary tightening to counter capital outflows and increase the cost of betting against the rupee, according to bankers and analysts cited by Reuters. The measures follow recent rate increases and steps to drain liquidity as pressure on the currency and inflation concerns persist
  • India directed oil marketing companies to stop diverting sugar-based feedstocks for ethanol production in the 2026–27 supply year, according to a new tender issued on Friday. The companies have invited bids for 11 billion litres of ethanol made from alternatives including corn and broken rice, amid concerns about domestic sugar supplies and prices
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India's trade imbalance with China was growing sharply and attributed the problem partly to restrictions on Indian goods and services entering the Chinese market. China subsequently said it was ready to work with India to address mutual economic and trade concerns; India's trade deficit with China reached $69 billion in the first half of FY2026–27, up 27% year-on-year
  • Indian equity benchmarks extended their recovery on Friday, with the Sensex rising 413.66 points to close at 74,729.27 and the Nifty 50 gaining 148.80 points to settle at 23,146.15. Information technology shares, including Tech Mahindra, Infosys and TCS, helped lift the indices
  • India defeated Zimbabwe by four wickets in the opening women's T20 International in Raipur, taking a 1–0 lead in the three-match series. Deepti Sharma and Niki Prasad combined in an 82-run stand after India's top order collapsed, helping the hosts chase down Zimbabwe's total of 114 for five
  • Indian wrestler Komal won bronze in the women's 59 kg category at the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, defeating Kazakhstan's Viktoriia Khusainova 7–2. Fellow Indian Amruta Pujari advanced to the women's 72 kg final after recording two pinfall victories
  • Indian shuttler Jagsher Singh Khangurra secured a bronze medal at the BWF World Junior Badminton Championships in Cairo
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  • The Supreme Court issued notices to the Election Commission of India, Delhi Police and opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, in separate petitions concerning electoral-roll revision and protests held in Delhi on October 10–12. The court also directed the preservation of CCTV footage linked to allegations of police excesses
  • The Supreme Court ruled that a person converting from Hinduism to Islam cannot automatically claim backward-class reservation benefits in the new religious community solely on the basis of their previous caste status. The judgment upheld the Madras High Court's decision striking down a 2024 Tamil Nadu government order that permitted such certification for specified communities
  • The Election Commission of India ordered a Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls in 14 states and three Union Territories, using January 1, 2027, as the qualifying date for voter eligibility. The draft rolls are scheduled for publication on November 12, claims and objections will be accepted until December 11, and the final rolls are due on January 4, 2027
Delhi HC refuses to ban CJP's Tiranga rally at Central Park in Connaught Place today /////// Police says will control and regulate it /////// NDMC closes the park for the public on Friday and Saturday
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Digital Arrest Scam: Still Going Strong, Due To Fear & Ignorance Of Law

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2025-09-12 07:52:33

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator. Author of Cyber Scams in India, Digital Arrest, The Money Trap and The Human Hack

 Early Warning By Prime Minister Modi

As early as October 2024, Prime Minister Modi had warned Indians about digital arrest in his Mann Ki Baat episode. His response was in view of the growing menace of digital scams that were harassing and looting ordinary citizens. The Prime Minister said that "beware of digital arrest frauds. There is no system like digital arrest under the law. No government agency will ever contact you via phone or video call for such an investigation."

 Steps Taken By The Government 

The government had also resorted to full page newspaper ads and carried out an awareness campaign over radio and TV. Officials also claimed to have blocked thousands of Skype and Whats App accounts linked to the scams. But reported cases continued to grow and the menace had not stopped even now.

 The Scam Contiues

There are reports of people getting scammed and losing their life's savings to digital arrest scammers every week. In a recent case, a Mumbai women lost Rs 58 lakh. And these people are not the elderly who are not technology savvy. Even youngsters are being taken for a ride. The profiles of victims includes housewives, IT-sector executives, businessmen, professionals like doctors, lawyers and journalists and, in some cases, even known figures.

 Fear & Ignorance Of Law

The scam works on fear and ignorance of law. Often, the victim is approached and informed that they have committed an act now considered illegal under Indian law (like sending or receiving a parcel that contains narcotics, for example, or bank accounts being used to launder money) and then they are forced to submit to 'digital arrest' by being under 24X7 surveillance over Skype, Whats App video call or any other app. They are hounded and scared to their wits and forced to transfer huge sums of money to the scammers to be 'released' from digital 'captivity'.

 How To Avoid Getting Scammed

The best way to avoid this scam is not to entertain any such call from any unknown number and report it to the police immediately. If someone calls a person and talks about an 'illegal' act committed, it is best to disconnect the call and report it to the local police station. In no case should one keep on talking to the scammers for it is then that they will instil fear and doubts in your mind. If you have not sent or are not expecting a parcel or if your bank account is in order, why should you fall for their scam? But once the scammers start talking, fear and doubts override reason and people fall prey to the scam. 

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