More than 21,900 complaints of digital arrest fraud involving over Rs 647 crore were registered across India between January and August 2026, according to a status report submitted by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to the Supreme Court.
The report, filed on October 7, outlines steps being taken by law enforcement agencies, banks, telecom operators and social media platforms to tackle the growing menace, recover victims' money and prevent further fraud.
The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the issue on October 17, 2025, after a Haryana-based senior citizen couple alleged that fraudsters posing as CBI and Enforcement Directorate officers had cheated them of over Rs 1 crore. The accused allegedly intimidated the couple through WhatsApp calls and video conferences, using forged Supreme Court orders.
Complaints and recovery measures
The report shows that digital arrest complaints fell from 1,23,672 in 2024, involving Rs 1,935 crore, to 58,239 in 2025, involving Rs 1,211 crore.
A Grievance Redressal Portal (GRP), launched by the MHA in February 2026, became fully operational nationwide in April. By September 30, it covered 109 banks and 1.28 lakh branches. Of 93,041 grievances related to cybercrime and cyber fraud received through the portal, agencies had acted on 60,638.
A Money Restoration Portal, launched in April, has also facilitated refunds. Of more than 6 lakh restoration requests, agencies issued 4.69 lakh orders, resulting in the restoration of Rs 332.7 crore. Banks directly returned Rs 112.96 crore to victims, the report stated.
Banks consider stronger safeguards
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is examining changes to its instructions on bank accounts and money mules, with a standard operating procedure being prepared to help identify and monitor suspicious accounts.
The proposed mechanism is expected to be integrated with the GRP and Money Restoration Portal, with implementation tentatively scheduled for December 2026.
The RBI is also examining a delayed transaction safeguard that could give banks additional time to identify suspected fraud. Some banks have raised concerns about customer inconvenience and whether the measure would remain effective as fraud techniques evolve.
Separately, new RBI instructions on compensation for fraudulent electronic banking transactions will take effect on January 1, 2027. The rules will shorten complaint resolution timelines from 90 to 45 days for domestic cases and 60 days for cross-border cases.
Eligible victims who lose up to Rs 50,000 may receive compensation of 85 per cent of their net loss or Rs 25,000, whichever is lower, subject to conditions including reporting the fraud within five calendar days.
CBI probes and proposed call safeguards
The Supreme Court has directed the CBI to investigate digital arrest cases involving fraud of Rs 10 crore or more. Since December 1, 2025, the agency has arrested more than 49 people and filed chargesheets against over 140, the report said.
Authorities are also exploring a “kill switch” to disconnect prolonged audio and video calls associated with digital arrest scams. Major telecom service providers have implemented a similar facility, while the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has discussed its technical feasibility with Meta and Telegram.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the matter on October 29. An inter-departmental committee is also preparing a proposal on victim compensation and shared liability.