The Supreme Court on Wednesday termed internet fraudsters as “parasites” and said those who cheat innocent citizens should be dealt with strictly, observing that the interests of society are best served when such culprits remain behind bars, as it refused to entertain a plea of an alleged internet fraud accused seeking batting multiple cases and bail.
“You people are parasites,” a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana said as it dealt with a petition filed by Manoj Kumar Singh, who is facing multiple cases of internet fraud in Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Jammu and Kashmir.
The judge said: “You are taking money from investors and deceiving them. We must be very harsh with you. The interest of society exists only when you are inside prison and not outside it.”
The court noted the unique modus operandi followed by these defendants, who operate in one area and then constantly change their base to avoid arrest. “You are hardened criminals whose victims are spread all over India. You cheat someone in Tamil Nadu and then go to Jammu,” the court said.
Singh said in his petition that he has multiple cases pending against him in different states and fears that more cases may be filed against him in the future. Jammu Police and Tirupur Police in Tamil Nadu had registered cases against him for cheating in March this year.
Incidentally, the bench headed by him had taken suo motu cognizance of the digital arrest fraud cases and adopted a strict stand against cyber fraudsters who cheat gullible citizens, especially senior citizens, of their hard-earned savings by posing as law enforcement officials and issuing court orders.
In these proceedings, after the intervention of the court, the states and union territories referred major cases related to digital arrest fraud to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to facilitate investigation into the inter-country and inter-continental links of these organized syndicates. The matter is still pending before the Supreme Court, which seeks to develop effective preventive measures involving banks, telecom service providers and social media platforms to warn citizens about such scams and enable recovery of funds lost in the process.
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