India Blocked 129 Betting Sites on Fake Court Orders

India’s Department of Telecommunications issued directions to block 129 betting websites based on two purported High Court orders that were later found to be fake, prompting a police investigation into alleged forgery and cheating, according to court and police records.

The department issued the blocking directions on July 21 and September 2, covering 34 and 95 websites respectively. Copies of purported orders from the Rajasthan High Court and Allahabad High Court were attached to the directives. The documents directed the removal of dozens of websites linked to betting, which is illegal under Indian law.

Neither order appears in the courts’ online registration records. The Rajasthan High Court registrar told investigators that the purported order issued in the court’s name appeared fraudulent and was not on its server. The Allahabad High Court found its purported order, dated August 14, was not genuine and filed a police complaint on November 6.

Police records show an investigation into alleged forgery and cheating by unidentified persons. Ghanshyam Yadav, a senior Uttar Pradesh cybercrime official, said the Allahabad order was fake and that there had been no arrests. The...