The Prime Minister's office demanded an explanation after officials instructed internet service providers to shut down 129 illegal betting websites based on forged High Court documents. These fraudulent notices included fake court logos, seals, and QR codes that deceived the telecommunications ministry into issuing official blocking directives. Notably, the ministry hosted the forged orders and its corresponding takedown directives publicly on its official website for months before taking one down on Saturday. Both an internal ministry inquiry and a state police criminal investigation are currently underway.
Key points
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office summoned Telecom Secretary Amit Agrawal to explain…: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office summoned Telecom Secretary Amit Agrawal to explain the department's reliance on forged legal documents.
The episode has exposed a significant lack of administrative safeguards against falsified…: The episode has exposed a significant lack of administrative safeguards against falsified records being used to shutter internet sites.
State police have launched a criminal investigation into unknown individuals for cheating…: State police have launched a criminal investigation into unknown individuals for cheating and forgery while seeking ministry records.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
NEW DELHI, Nov 14 : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office summoned the telecommunications secretary on Saturday to explain how officials ordered the takedown of more than 100 websites based on court orders that Reuters revealed were fake, two government sources said.
The intervention from Modi's office signals intensifying scrutiny after Reuters revealed on Wednesday that telecom officials directed internet providers to block 129 illegal betting websites based on fake High Court orders which were emailed to officials by people posing as lawyers.
While online betting is illegal in India, the case has raised concerns that a lack of safeguards in India's content-takedown system could allow falsified court documents to be used to block legitimate websites.
The findings have triggered one criminal investigation by state police against unknown persons for forgery and cheating.
Modi's office summoned Telecom Secretary Amit Agrawal to appear and explain the lapse, cutting short Agrawal's trip to another state, said the two government officials with knowledge of the matter.
Agrawal is the most senior bureaucrat in the telecommunications ministry, which oversees everyone from big telecom operators…
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