11 hrs ago
Bombay High Court Denies Bail Over Rs 4.03 Crore Fraud
A doctor was allegedly tricked into paying Rs 7.17 crore in a digital-arrest scam.
Investigators said Rs 4.03 crore of that money went into a man’s bank account and was later withdrawn.
The man asked the Bombay High Court to protect him from arrest while the case continued.
He said he had expected a Rs 20 lakh donation for his charity and that his phone had been hacked.
The court said there was no evidence in the record that the phone had been hacked.
It also noted that the man operated the account.
The judges said money in these scams can pass through many accounts, making it hard to follow.
They refused bail and said investigators needed to question him in custody.
The Bombay High Court denied anticipatory bail to a man whose bank account received Rs 4.03 crore in a suspected digital-arrest fraud.
The state said a doctor was pressured into paying Rs 7.17 crore, with Rs 4.03 crore allegedly transferred to the accused’s account and later withdrawn.
The accused said he runs a charitable institution and believed the account details were being used for a proposed Rs 20 lakh donation.
The court found no material supporting the claim that his phone had been hacked and noted that the account was operated by him.
The court said custodial interrogation was necessary to investigate the crime and identify those responsible.
- Who
- The Bombay High Court, a man seeking anticipatory bail, and a doctor who was allegedly defrauded.
- What
- The court denied anticipatory bail in a suspected digital-arrest fraud involving Rs 4.03 crore deposited into the man’s account.
- Where
- The Bombay High Court heard the application; the state said a competent court in Kanpur had taken cognisance of the offences.
- When
- The order was dated October 5; the article does not specify the year.
- Why
- The court cited the seriousness of the alleged offence, the lack of evidence supporting the hacking claim, and the need for custodial interrogation.
Accused’s position
State and court’s position
How the money reached the account
Accused’s position
The accused said he provided bank details to Vinit Shrivastava for a proposed Rs 20 lakh donation and later found that Rs 4.03 crore had been deposited and withdrawn.
State and court’s position
The state said the money was part of a digital-arrest fraud against a doctor and alleged that the accused was involved; the court noted the account was operated by him.
Claim of phone hacking
Accused’s position
The accused’s lawyer said his mobile phone had been hacked.
State and court’s position
The court said there was no material on record indicating that the phone had been hacked and rejected the explanation as a basis for relief.
Need for custody
Accused’s position
The accused argued through counsel that he was a victim, not a perpetrator, and sought protection from arrest.
State and court’s position
The state opposed relief, and the court said custodial interrogation was necessary to investigate the offence and find those responsible.
Key facts
- Bail decision
- Anticipatory bail denied
- Amount received
- Rs 4.03 crore allegedly entered the accused’s bank account
- Alleged amount paid by doctor
- Rs 7.17 crore
- Claimed donation proposal
- Rs 20 lakh for the accused’s charitable institution
- Order date
- October 5; year not stated
- Court’s stated reason for custody
- To investigate the crime and identify the perpetrators
Quotes
Bombay High Court
The court hearing the accused man’s anticipatory bail application.
“One of the important aspects in such cases (digital arrest) including economic offence is that different accounts are used for the purpose of receiving the money and the said money is ultimately distributed to different accounts making it impossible to trace the trail of the money. Any frivolous or afterthought explanation by the persons whose accounts are credited with crime money would amount to lending encouragement to commission of such crimes.”
indianexpress.com
“Needless to say that there is an increase in the number of persons being defrauded by digital arrests.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
Related news
CBI Searches 22 Locations, Arrests Two in ₹11.42-Crore Digital-Arrest Case
Calcutta High Court Transfers Bengal Digital Arrest Case To CBI
Vrindavan Businessman Allegedly Duped of Rs 30 Lakh in Scam
IIT Graduate, Bank Manager Among Six Held in ₹1.12-Crore Scam
75-Year-Old Woman Allegedly Loses Rs 2 Crore in Digital Arrest Fraud
Two Arrested in Delhi Digital Arrest Fraud Investigation
MPSC Protest Continues Despite Police Denial of Permission
Bombay High Court Limits Developer’s Society Membership to Sanctioned Basement
Bombay High Court Questions Waze’s Conduct During Bail Challenge
Bombay High Court Questions Waze’s Mercedes Use in Antilia Case
