A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana made the strong observation while hearing a petition filed by Manoj Kumar Singh, who is facing multiple cases of cyber fraud registered in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Jammu and Kashmir. The accused had approached the Court seeking consolidation of the cases and relief from continued incarceration.
During the hearing, the Bench came down heavily on the accused, stating, “You people are parasites.” The Court further remarked, “You people take money from investors and dupe them. We have to be very harsh on you. Society’s interest is there only when you are inside jail and not outside.”
The judges also noted the alleged operational pattern of such accused individuals, observing that they frequently shift locations to evade arrest. “You are hardened criminals whose victims are spread across the country. You cheat someone in Tamil Nadu and then go to Jammu,” the Court observed, highlighting the inter-state nature of the alleged fraud operations.
According to the petition, Manoj Kumar Singh faces multiple pending cases in different states and has expressed apprehension that additional cases may be registered against him in the future. The Jammu and Kashmir Police and Tirupur Police in Tamil Nadu have already registered cases against him in connection with cheating incidents reported in March this year.
The Bench also referenced its ongoing suo motu proceedings concerning digital arrest fraud cases, noting its earlier strict stance against cyber fraud networks that target vulnerable citizens, particularly senior citizens, by impersonating law enforcement authorities and displaying forged judicial documents to extort money.
As part of those proceedings, the Supreme Court has observed that several states and Union Territories have referred major digital arrest fraud cases to the Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate the wider national and international links of organised cybercrime syndicates. The matter remains under consideration as the Court continues to explore preventive mechanisms involving banks, telecom service providers, and social media platforms to alert citizens and strengthen safeguards against such fraudulent activities, as well as to facilitate recovery of lost funds.
The order underscores the judiciary’s increasingly strict approach toward organised cyber fraud networks, signalling that such offences, viewed as systemic and cross-border in nature, will face uncompromising scrutiny from the highest court.
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