New Delhi: CBI is set to roll out an AI-powered chatbot aimed at curbing the growing menace of digital arrest scams. Officials said this tool provides a critical shield for the public by allowing citizens to cross-reference any suspicious document against official records instantly.CJI Surya Kant will unveil the app, named Abhay, on Monday at the 22nd DP Kohli Memorial Lecture to be held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi.“The chatbot aims to neutralise the psychological leverage fraudsters hold over their victims, providing a much-needed digital safeguard in an era of increasingly sophisticated impersonation,” said an official. The digital arrest frauds typically begin with a victim receiving a fraudulent notice via social media or email, meticulously forged with official seals and intimidating legal terminology.Scammers often claim the recipient’s bank account or identity has been implicated in grave crimes such as money laundering or international drug trafficking. To resolve the matter, victims are coerced into prolonged video calls where they are told they are under a digital arrest, eventually being pressured into transferring massive sums of money into govt-safe accounts to avoid immediate physical detention, a fabrication designed to exploit fear and a lack of direct verification channels.The unveiling of the Abhay chatbot serves as a practical centrepiece to the Chief Justice’s lecture, titled “Challenges of Cyber Crime—Role for Police and Judiciary.”The event will also honour excellence within the force, with 24 Medals for meritorious service being awarded to distinguished officers. This lecture series commemorates the CBI’s founding director, Dharamnath Prasad Kohli, a legendary figure who led the agency from its inception in 1963 until 1968.An official said, “Kohli, a Padma Bhushan recipient, remains committed to making the CBI a symbol of integrity and professionalism, guiding the agency as it tackles the growing challenges of cybercrime.”
