Centre orders blocking of 129 betting websites based on fake HC orders: Report
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New Delhi: The Union government ordered the blocking of 129 betting websites this year on the basis of two purported High Court directives that were later found to be forged, according to a Reuters investigation.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued the blocking instructions on July 21 and September 2, citing orders allegedly issued by the Rajasthan High Court and the Allahabad High Court. Copies of the documents were also uploaded to the department's website.
However, neither directive appeared in the respective courts' official records. The Rajasthan High Court registrar informed Reuters that the purported order was fraudulent and had no record on the court's server. The Allahabad High Court also confirmed that the document attributed to it was fabricated and lodged a police complaint on November 6.
The fake Allahabad High Court order, dated August 14, carried the name of Justice Garima Prashad. Police verification reportedly established that no such direction had been issued by the judge.
The purported orders were submitted to the DoT by individuals claiming to be legal practitioners. The department did not respond to Reuters' questions regarding the blocking instructions.
The revelations come amid a separate investigation into forged government notices sent to social media platform X, seeking the removal of accounts belonging to digital rights organisations Internet Freedom Foundation and Software Freedom Law Centre. Delhi Police has registered an FIR over the alleged impersonation and forgery.