Uttar Pradesh Police has registered a criminal case to investigate allegations that a fake Allahabad High Court order was sent to the Union government to block at least 95 websites allegedly streaming fake Indian Premier League (IPL) matches and operating betting platforms

The case has been registered under Sections 318(2), 336(2), 336(3), 337, 338, and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The provisions pertain to offences of cheating and forgery including that of court records.

The FIR was registered on November 06 following a complaint of a joint registrar of the Allahabad High Court who stated that the Chief Justice on November 03 ordered that a criminal case be registered in the matter.

The complaint said that the High Court had received an email from Reuters technology reporter Munsif Vengattil on October 30 seeking confirmation about a blocking order found by him on the Department of Telecommunications website.

The blocking order dated September 02 relied upon a High Court order claimed to have been passed by Justice Garima Prashad. It was sent to the department by a lawyer who identified as Senior Advocate Kartikey Pandey.

However, the High Court in its police complaint said they were unable to locate the order on its website. An internal investigation revealed that order did not exist at all. Justice Prasad's private secretary also confirmed that no such order was passed.

Considering the findings of the internal probe, the High Court administration asked the police to register a formal case to probe the forgery.

"Vide alleged order dated 14.08.2026, 95 websites have been ordered to be blocked (copy enclosed). It is apparent from the facts mentioned above that unknown person has committed the offence of forgery with intention of cheating, used the forged documents as genuine. In view of above, this application is submitted along with enclosures mentioned below for registration of FIR u/s 318(2), 336(2), 336(3), 337, 338, 340(2) B.N.S. along-with other related provisions/sections of I.T. Act and other penal laws for the time being in force, against unknown person for forgery," the complaint said.

Reuters today published an exclusive report revealing that its e-mail had led to registration of the police case. The news agency also reported that a similar forged order of the Rajasthan High Court had led to the blocking of at least 34 websites in July.

The order passed in Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand's name was sent to the Department of Telecommunications by a person who identified as Aryan Chaudhary, Advocate on Record (AOR).

However, the High Court told the news agency that the order bearing its name "appears to ⁠be fraudulent" and did not exist on its server.  In total, the two fake High Court orders led to the blocking of 129 websites.