New Delhi: Even though the Centre has publicly promoted technology firm Zoho’s instant messaging app Arattai as a “safe” and “Made in India” alternative to global platforms, the app is yet to comply with government directions to curb digital arrests, according to a status report submitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to the Supreme Court Monday.
The submission was made in connection with a suo motu writ petition being examined by the apex court on the growing menace of digital arrests.
In the submission, the Centre said, “DoT (Department of Telecommunications) informed that directions were issued regarding SIM binding and to fix session/duration of calls/communications to TIUEs (Telecom Identifier User Entity) providing app-based communication services in India, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Arattai, on 28.11.2025. However, they are yet to comply.”
The DoT had issued binding directions on 28 November 2025 to TIUEs—a regulatory category that includes app-based communication platforms using mobile numbers for identification. The directions mandate SIM binding, ensuring that apps cannot be used without the original and active SIM card, and require time-bound session controls for web-based communications.
These measures are aimed at disrupting attempts at digital arrest, which often rely on long, uninterrupted video calls to isolate victims and coerce them into transferring money.
The issue was discussed during an inter-ministerial meeting attended by officials from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), DoT and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Officials noted that compliance from platforms remains pending despite formal directions.
I4C, during the meeting, flagged that WhatsApp had not shown “seriousness” in addressing abuse of its platform in digital arrest cases. According to officials, “while similar technical and behavioural signals were shared with Microsoft and WhatsApp, Microsoft acted expeditiously, whereas no comparable action has been forthcoming from WhatsApp.”
The Centre’s submission further noted: “MeitY was informed to take up the matter with the intermediaries for time-bound action, and instructions were issued to hold a separate meeting with WhatsApp at the level of Union Home Secretary.”
As part of the action plan against digital arrest, a meeting with WhatsApp under the chairmanship of Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan is to be organised. MeitY and Center for Development of Advanced Computing (under Meity) will also continue coordination for the development and operationalisation of a portal to address such cybercrime issues, while MeitY has been tasked with following up with intermediaries for time-bound compliance.
The inclusion of Arattai among non-compliant platforms is notable given the government’s public endorsement of the app. In September 2025, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan promoted Zoho’s Arattai on X, describing it as “free, easy-to-use, secure and safe”, and urging citizens to adopt Swadeshi digital products in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to support Indian-made apps.
Following endorsements by ministers, Zoho’s Arattai saw a late surge in adoption, touching 7.5 million downloads across the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store by early October. Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has also publicly highlighted the app’s “indigenous engineering frameworks” and said he had advised his team to remain focused despite the attention.
ThePrint reached out to Zoho’s media and public affairs representatives via e-mail, but has not received a response. This report will be updated if and when we receive a response.
In November 2025, DoT officials had argued that the absence of SIM binding allows fraudsters operating from outside India to continue using accounts linked to Indian numbers even after SIMs are removed or deactivated. Failure to comply with the directions, DoT had also warned, would invite action under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024, amended in October 2025.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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