Former CJI Sanjiv Khanna raised questions about law and order; Calls for public trust restoration

While addressing the TPF-Dayitva, National Legal Conference on White Collar Crime, Justice Khanna said that white collar crime is an “evolving threat” that weakens society’s moral foundation.

Post Published By: Sona Saini
Updated : 11 October 2025, 6:02 PM IST
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New Delhi: Former Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna said that a common perception has developed in the country that law enforcement agencies are not for help but for harassment. This fear leads ordinary citizens to distance themselves from these agencies, leading to cybercriminals exploiting them.

Justice Khanna said, "Instead of seeking justice, people pay criminals out of fear. It is essential to make the legal system accessible and sensitive to the general public."

TPF to Host National Legal Conference on Combating White-Collar Crime on 11 October

White Collar Crime Eroding Society's Morality

While addressing the TPF-Dayitva, National Legal Conference on White Collar Crime, Justice Khanna said that white collar crime is an "evolving threat" that weakens society's moral foundation.

He suggested that laws should be used with sensitivity when investigating economic crimes. “It is not appropriate to treat every financial mistake as fraud. It is important to distinguish between intentional fraud, unintentional mistake, and procedural error.”

Lack Of Coordination Among Investigating Agencies: Colonel Singh

Former ED Director Colonel Singh said that in India, multiple agencies work to investigate economic crimes, but there is a lack of coordination among them.

He said, “Multiple agencies are investigating the same case, but they do not share documents or evidence among themselves. This leads to duplication of work and incomplete prosecutions.”

Citing the example of the AgustaWestland scam, he said that bribe money was entangled in international transactions, but only a small portion could be seized in India.

“Theft is happening from the system, not from pockets”: NSE Chief

NSE CEO Ashish Kumar Chauhan said that as society becomes economically prosperous, crimes are becoming more white-collar.

He said, “Money is now stolen from the system, not from pockets. UPI eliminated cash, but not corruption. Now theft has become digital.”

CJI BR Gavai’s mother slams shoe attack in Supreme Court; Calls it assault on constitution

TPF Appeal: Professionals Become Moral Watchdogs

TPF National Convenor Raj Kumar Nahata said that white-collar crime is not a “victimless crime.” He said, “Every scam deprives our country of opportunities. We must collectively become moral watchdogs and vigilant citizens.”

The TPF–Dayitva Conference, attended by over a thousand professionals from law, finance, medicine, and academia, featured discussions on ethics, compliance, governance, and the evolving statutory framework to address financial crimes, aligning with India’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047'.

Location : 
  • New Delhi

Published : 
  • 11 October 2025, 6:02 PM IST