Supreme Court calls cyber crime 'digital dacoity', declines case consolidation

The Supreme Court of India has drawn a parallel between cyber crimes and traditional dacoity, terming online criminal activities as 'digital dacoity' in a recent order. The characterisation underscores the serious nature of cyber offences and their impact on victims, treating them with the gravity accorded to conventional property crimes.

In the same order, the apex court declined a petition seeking consolidation of multiple cyber crime cases. The refusal suggests that the court views each cyber offence as requiring individual examination based on its specific circumstances and jurisdictional considerations, rather than treating them as a collective legal matter.

The decision reflects the judiciary's evolving perspective on cyber crimes, which have become increasingly prevalent across India. By equating cyber offences with dacoity—a serious crime under the Indian Penal Code—the court emphasizes that digital attacks warrant stringent legal responses comparable to physical property crimes.

The ruling may have implications for how lower courts and law enforcement agencies approach cyber crime investigations and prosecutions. It reinforces that cyber offences cannot be treated as minor infractions, and each case warrants thorough investigation and prosecution on its individual merits rather than through consolidated proceedings.