India’s Department of Telecommunications has ordered internet service providers to block 129 gambling websites, based on two high-court orders that a Reuters investigation finds were forged. The July 21 and September 2 blocking directives cited electronic copies of rulings from the Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh high courts, which later audits and court checks disputed.
Authorities say court registry reviews show the cited rulings do not exist. In Rajasthan, the high court registrar verified that the orders were fraudulent. In Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court has referred the matter for a police investigation. The forgeries reportedly used official emblems and court seals; one order allegedly included a QR code that led to a random webpage rather than a genuine case record.
Across outlets, the main focus is the same: the government actions were linked to fake judicial documents and highlight weaknesses in the verification steps for internet blocking. Right-leaning US outlets emphasize the government’s statement that the blocks relied on falsified orders, while Cyprus Mail frames the incident as evidence that fake orders can still pass through India’s content-removal process.
