Possible To Reform Murderer, But Cyber Criminal Should Not Be Spared : CJI Surya Kant

During the hearing of a cybercrime case, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant today commented that it maybe possible to release and reform a murderer, but cyber criminals must not be spared at all.

Referring to the accused before the Court, who apparently had a history of cyber frauds, the CJI said that a cyber criminal like him should be kept in single member cell without possibility of use of any mobile phone, etc. "That's the only way to deal", the CJI remarked.

A bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi was dealing with one Suraj Srivastav's challenge to the Allahabad High Court order which rejected his bail application in a case registered under Sections 420/120B of the IPC and Section 66D of the IT Act.

Srivastav is statedly in jail since 12.05.2025 and has 3 criminal antecedents. As per allegations, he cheated the informant in the present case to the tune of Rs.6,55,700/- on the pretext of providing part time job. He allegedly opened 5 accounts in which money was transferred and some UPI transactions were linked to him.

Vide the impugned order, the High Court denied Srivastav bail, noting that cyber crimes in the country are on the rise with the advancement of digital technology. It was also commented that cyber crimes are like a silent virus, which is stealthily disrupting and costing society more than just money.

Aggrieved, Srivastav approached the Supreme Court. The petition was filed through AoR Gaurav Khanna.

In related news, a bench headed by Justice Surya Kant (now CJI) took up a suo motu case last year over "digital arrest scams". The action followed a complaint from a 73-year-old woman from Ambala, Haryana, who alleged that scammers used forged Supreme Court orders to confine her in a so-called “digital arrest” and extort more than Rs.1 crore.

Pursuant to the Court's order in the suo motu case, the Ministry of Home Affairs constituted a High-level Inter-Departmental Committee to comprehensively examine all facets related to "digital arrests”.

Case Title: SURAJ SRIVASTAV ALIAS SANJAY Versus STATE OF U.P, SLP(Crl) No. 5243/2026