CJI-designate Justice Surya Kant spearheads Chandigarh’s awareness campaign to combat the growing menace of “digital arrest” scams, urging citizens, especially senior citizens, to stay alert and remember that the law never arrests online; it protects offline.
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NEW DELHI: A new public awareness campaign launched by the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA), UT Chandigarh, is taking aim at one of the fastest-growing forms of online fraud in India, the so-called “digital arrest” scam.
Under the guidance of Justice Surya Kant, Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), along with Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and Justice Deepak Sibal, Executive Chairman, SLSA Chandigarh, the initiative seeks to protect ordinary citizens, especially senior citizens and pensioners, from cybercriminals who impersonate law enforcement officials.
These scams typically begin with a phone call. The caller claims to be from a Cyber Crime Department or Law Enforcement Cell, warning that the victim’s Aadhaar number or bank account is linked to illegal activity. To make the lie believable, fraudsters may share forged documents, send fake ID cards, or initiate video calls to “verify” the victim’s identity. Before long, they demand payment, billed as bail money, verification fees, or security deposits.
Victims are often kept on the call for hours, threatened with arrest, and pressured to transfer money immediately. In effect, they are “digitally arrested.”
Law Doesn’t Arrest Online
The central slogan of the Chandigarh campaign, “Law doesn’t arrest online”, reminds citizens that no genuine law enforcement agency ever demands money or personal information over the phone or through video chats.
The initiative focuses on prevention through awareness, emphasizing that real police or government officials will never seek payments or threaten arrest through calls, messages, or apps.
To reach those most at risk, the campaign’s information materials are being distributed at banks, post offices, hospitals, government offices, and court complexes, places frequented by elderly citizens and pensioners.
Each poster and pamphlet explains how scammers operate, lists common red flags, and provides clear steps for victims to take. Citizens are advised to immediately hang up and report suspicious calls to the National Cybercrime Helpline (1930) or register complaints on cybercrime.gov.in.
Free Legal Support Through Helpline 15100
Alongside awareness, the Chandigarh SLSA campaign ensures direct access to free legal aid.
Victims can call 15100, the NALSA Helpline Number, to receive immediate legal advice and guidance from qualified retainer lawyers available at the Taluka, District, and High Court levels.
Those meeting the eligibility criteria under the Legal Services Authorities Act will also be provided with free legal representation. The Legal Services Authorities coordinate with local cybercrime cells to ensure that victims’ complaints are pursued promptly and effectively.
The initiative reflects a growing judicial focus on protecting citizens from the psychological and financial damage caused by cyber fraud.
Justice Surya Kant has long championed the idea that “awareness is the first step toward justice,” and under his leadership, NALSA has expanded from offering legal aid to building nationwide legal literacy.
Justice Deepak Sibal has ensured that the campaign doesn’t remain limited to posters; it reaches communities directly through outreach programs, awareness drives, and public interaction sessions.
“This initiative is not just about spreading warnings, it’s about giving people confidence,”
Justice Sibal explained.
“Senior citizens must know that the law is there to protect them, not to frighten them. Real justice systems empower, they never threaten.”
Arun Kumar Aggarwal, Member Secretary, SLSA Chandigarh, reinforced the message:
“In an age where misinformation spreads faster than truth, our goal is to remind everyone that the law never calls to arrest—it calls to protect. The moment you receive a threatening call, hang up. Then dial 1930 or 15100. Because the law doesn’t arrest online—it empowers offline.”
As cybercriminals find new ways to exploit fear, the Chandigarh Legal Services Authority’s campaign offers citizens a powerful line of defense, awareness backed by free legal help.
If a stranger claims to be an officer and demands payment, remember:
- No genuine agency will ever ask for money over a call.
- Don’t panic or share personal details.
- Report immediately to 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.
- For free legal support, contact 15100.