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Modi's office summons telecom secretary over use of fake court orders, officials say
Reuters • • world
Key Points:
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office has summoned Telecom Secretary Amit Agrawal to explain how over 100 websites were taken down based on fake court orders, cutting short his trip to another state.
- Telecom officials had directed internet providers to block 129 illegal betting websites using fabricated High Court orders sent by individuals posing as lawyers, raising concerns about the security of India's content-takedown system.
- The incident has prompted a criminal investigation by state police into potential forgery and cheating, while the telecom ministry has launched an internal probe into the alleged fraud.
- Fake court orders containing fabricated logos, seals, and QR codes were publicly available on the Department of Telecommunications' website for months, with some still accessible as of the report.
- India's Supreme Court has previously condemned the fabrication of court orders and legal documents, emphasizing that such acts undermine public trust and constitute serious criminal offenses.
