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India’s SC Calls for Standalone Offence for Digital Arrests, AI-Generated Deepfakes; Centre Working on Bill

The Supreme Court urged the Centre to define digital arrest as a standalone offence as the government said it is preparing a Bill covering digital arrest scams, AI-generated deepfakes and related cyber-enabled crimes.
Close-up of a pair of metal handcuffs placed on the keyboard of a laptop, symbolizing cybercrime, digital fraud investigations, or online law enforcement.
July 30, 2026 09:35 PM IST | Written by Supriya Singh | Edited by Pratima O Pareek

The Supreme Court urged the Centre to define digital arrest as a standalone criminal offence with stringent punishment after the government informed the court that it was preparing a draft Bill to be presented in the ongoing Parliament session.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the Centre was preparing a draft Bill to address digital arrests, AI-generated deepfakes and related cyber-enabled crimes.

While hearing suo motu proceedings on digital arrest scams, a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana noted that the court has taken a strict approach against digital arrest frauds, including refusing bail in such cases. The bench said, “In cases related to digital arrest, we will not grant bail unless extraordinary grounds exist.”

The bench, while addressing Attorney General R. Venkataramani, said that the government may need to formally define digital arrest in penal laws. They observed that digital arrest scams often involve elements of extortion, robbery and organized crime and suggested that the government consider creating a separate criminal offence with stringent penalties.

Justice Joymalya Bagchi also pointed out the growing use of AI-generated deepfakes for cheating and impersonation.

“We have deepfakes now. It can be used for cheating and impersonation. Under Article 142 we cannot define a crime…,” Justice Bagchi said.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also referred to a recent case involving a robotic law firm that generated answers to users’ legal queries, noting that the platform had been challenged by the Bar Association.

Several cases involving alleged AI-generated and deepfake content featuring  Indian politicians have surfaced in recent days. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari is set to file a civil suit against Meta Platforms, X Corp, Google LLC and other unknown persons, while Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has also filed a police complaint over alleged AI-generated deepfake content.

Also Read: Europe Moves to Ban AI Deepfake Nude Images, Jail Time on Table

Authors

  • AI FrontPage Reporter Supriya Singh

    Supriya Singh is a Reporter at AI FrontPage covering the AI & Education and AI & Jobs beats. She brings six years of print and digital experience, including three years at The Asian Age, where she reported on higher education, Delhi government, and crime. She is based in Delhi-NCR.

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  • Pratima Pareek, Editor and Co-founder of AI FrontPage

    Pratima O Pareek is an Editor and Co-Founder of AI FrontPage. A gold medalist in Mass Communication and Journalism, she's worked across national and international newsrooms, bringing sharp editorial instincts and a commitment to clarity. She believes in cutting through the noise to deliver stories that actually matter.
    Off the clock, she watches offbeat cinema, follows tennis, and explores new places like a traveler, not a tourist.

    LinkedIn

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