Tackling cybercrimes-RBI, Centre must comply with SC ruling

With the Supreme Court issuing several directions to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and several government bodies regarding ‘digital arrest’ scams, common people can hope for a decrease, if not outright elimination of the menace, which has plagued a cross-section of society. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, directed the authorities to ensure an expeditious disposal of matters relating to the freezing of bank accounts in cyber-enabled financial fraud cases. The growth in the size and spread of cyber fraud is horrifying. In February last year, the government informed the Rajya Sabha that there were about 65.9 lakh cyber-fraud complaints involving around Rs 55,659 crore. In 2021, there were 2.6 lakh complaints of swindling Rs 551 crore; in 2025, the corresponding numbers grew to 24 lakh and Rs 22,495 crore, respectively. In terms of money lost, the rise was almost 41 times in five years, as per reported figures. While the apex court’s intervention is welcome, this highlights a big uncomfortable truth about the country.

The government has apparently been lax in addressing such a critical issue; millions of people have lost tens of thousands of crores, and the powers that be didn’t show the urgency in alleviating the misery of people that they showed in implementing political agenda items like Vande Mataram and ONOE. It is a sad commentary on the competence, or the lack of it, of the executive that the judiciary had to step in to ensure relief to the defrauded citizens. With the government almost abdicating its duty, ministers and ruling party leaders shouldn’t complain about judicial activism. Failure on the part of the government to curb cyber-crime is also inexcusable because it is a non-partisan matter; no political party will oppose decisions and actions taken by the authorities to throw the culprits behind bars. And yet, the government has been found lackadaisical in curtailing the menace. In a way, the Narendra Modi regime’s apathetic attitude towards the issue is emblematic of its general governance principle: excessive focus on ideologically and politically motivated matters.

Despite repeated warnings from experts and the alarming rise in cyber-enabled financial crimes, preventive mechanisms, public awareness campaigns, and institutional coordination have not kept pace with the rapidly evolving methods employed by fraudsters. Victims continue to face prolonged delays in recovering frozen funds, navigating complex complaint procedures, and obtaining effective assistance from the authorities. Such systemic shortcomings erode public confidence in digital banking and the government’s broader push towards a digital economy. As digital transactions become an integral part of everyday life, ensuring their security is not merely an administrative responsibility but a fundamental obligation of the state. A government that actively promotes digital payments and online financial services must also ensure that citizens are adequately protected against the risks accompanying technological advancement. In this context, the Supreme Court’s intervention should serve as a wake-up call rather than a substitute for executive action. Only through sustained administrative commitment and proactive governance can the government reassure citizens that the promise of a digital India will not be overshadowed by the persistent threat of cybercrime. And only the government can do it properly, because that governance is, or should be, its core competence. The Supreme Court has taken the initiative and has set the ball rolling. It is for the government to take it forward.

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The Hans India