India's Internet Regulator Used Forged Court Orders to Block Betting Sites

NEW DELHI — India's government directed internet service providers to block 129 betting websites based on two forged state high court orders, according to findings that have prompted law enforcement to open investigations into potential abuse of judicial processes.

The fake court orders, purportedly issued by high courts in southern India, were used to justify the website takedowns as part of authorities' efforts to curb illegal online gambling. However, verification of the court documents revealed they were fraudulent, raising questions about the vetting procedures employed by government agencies responsible for internet regulation.

The discovery has sparked concerns over the potential weaponisation of court orders in India's internet governance framework. Legal experts have flagged the incident as a significant breach of procedural safeguards, noting that forged judicial documents undermine the legitimacy of content removal decisions and create precedents for regulatory overreach.

At least one state police department has initiated a formal investigation into the matter. Officials have not yet publicly identified which agencies issued the blocking orders or whether additional fraudulent directives may exist within India's internet regulation system. The incident comes as India continues to grapple with balancing law enforcement objectives against concerns over unchecked censorship powers.