<h1>Private petition converted to public interest litigation over digital arrest QR-code fraud; central agencies, banks and telcos ordered to respond</h1> A state high court converted a private petition into a public interest litigation concerning 'digital arrest' fraud and directed the central bank, telecom providers, the communications ministry and private banks operating in the state to file responses within three weeks; notices were issued to these respondents. The court ordered circulation of the existing SOP to all police stations and mandated public-awareness campaigns to prevent scams. The underlying complaint alleges fraudulent callers falsely claimed a non-bailable warrant and demanded payment using multiple QR codes, and the petitioner had reported the matter to local police without action.