India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) ordered internet service providers to block 129 websites linked to illegal betting this year on the basis
of two purported High Court orders that were later found to be fake, a Reuters investigation has revealed. The matter has prompted a police investigation in Uttar Pradesh, while the Rajasthan High Court has also flagged an order issued in its name as fraudulent. According to Reuters, the DoT issued two website-blocking directions on July 21 and September 2, attaching copies of court orders purportedly issued by the Rajasthan High Court and the Allahabad High Court. Both orders directed the removal of dozens of websites. However, a review of the courts' online registration records by Reuters found no trace of either order. Following queries from the news agency, the Rajasthan High Court's registrar said in an email that the order bearing the court's name "appears to be fraudulent" and was not available on its server.
Court lodges police complain
In the case of the Allahabad High Court, the court found that the August 14 order was not genuine and lodged a police complaint on November 6, following Reuters' findings. Police documents reviewed by the news agency indicate that an investigation has been initiated against unidentified persons on charges of alleged forgery and cheating.
Ghanshyam Yadav, a senior Uttar Pradesh cybercrime official, also confirmed the development to Reuters, saying, "It is fake. It is not a genuine order from High Court of Allahabad." No arrests have been made so far, he added.
The purported Allahabad High Court order carried the court's logo and seal, along with a QR code.
The order was issued in the name of Justice Garima Prashad. Police documents reviewed by Reuters state that her office confirmed that no such order had been passed by the judge.
Together, the two purported orders resulted in blocking directions covering 129 websites featuring gambling-related content, which is prohibited under Indian law. It remains unclear how the forged documents were prepared or whether artificial intelligence was used in their creation.
