New Delhi, Terming cyber crime as digital dacoity, the Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to consolidate over 30 criminal complaints pending against two persons in 12 states for allegedly allowing the use of their company's account as a mule for the commission of various offenses. Digital arrests and such cyber offenses are digital dacoity, and there is no question of giving any judicial forum to such persons, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said.
Strongly condemning the organized cyber crime rackets targeting senior citizens through digital arrests, the CJI said those involved must face stringent action. An 81-year-old from Ernakulam was defrauded of ₹1.90 crore and his money was deposited in your mule account, the CJI noted. You decided to use the account of your company for cyber crime like digital arrest, the bench said while refusing to entertain the plea of Gourab Kumar Saha and Nidhi Bhandari.
The bench refused to allow the accused to use such proceedings to disrupt investigations in different states. Justice Bagchi asked as to why victims should be forced to travel to Delhi merely for the convenience of an accused seeking consolidation. Your right to seek transfer of cases to a place of your convenience cannot override the right of the victims and the investigating agency, Justice Bagchi stated, adding that the court might consider it only if the Delhi police requested it for investigative convenience.
The CJI asked if a victim, whose defrauded money was deposited in Hong Kong and Bangkok, could be asked to go there for redress. Following the court's strict stance, the petitioner ultimately withdrew the plea. Thirty-five criminal cases pertaining to cyber crimes are currently pending against the accused in states including Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, Telangana, and Gujarat.