3 weeks ago
Delhi court denies anticipatory bail in cyber fraud case
A judge in Delhi said a man suspected of helping to steal money online must stay in jail while the police investigate.
A person lost about 34.88 lakh rupees after being tricked on Facebook and WhatsApp into investing money.
The stolen money was moved through several bank accounts and ended up in a company's account.
The man, Ajay Sharma, was a director of that company.
Police found the same company was linked to nine other fraud complaints.
A huge amount of money, around 8.20 crore rupees, went into an account connected to him.
Sharma said he was only an employee and that he became a director without agreeing to it.
The judge did not believe this and said police need to question him to find the money and evidence.
The judge also noted that Sharma had been charged in another cybercrime case before and did not show up when called for questioning.
A Delhi court denied anticipatory bail to Ajay Sharma in a cyber fraud case on August 11.
A complainant allegedly lost Rs 34.88 lakh after being induced through Facebook and WhatsApp to invest money.
Part of the cheated amount was transferred through multiple bank accounts and reached an account of M/s Aerobott Ventures Pvt Ltd, where Sharma was a director.
The company's bank account surfaced in nine cyber fraud complaints across different states, and about Rs 8.20 crore was credited to an account linked to Sharma.
The court said custodial interrogation was necessary to trace funds and recover digital evidence, noting Sharma's prior charge-sheet in another cybercrime case and his failure to join the investigation.
- Who
- Ajay Sharma, accused in a cyber fraud case, and Additional Sessions Judge Samar Vishal, who heard and dismissed the anticipatory bail plea.
- What
- A Delhi court denied anticipatory bail, ruling that custodial interrogation is needed to trace funds, recover digital evidence and unravel the suspected fraud network.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- When
- August 11 (order date); reported on August 12.
- Why
- The court found the allegations serious and said granting protection from arrest could impede efforts to trace the money trail and investigate the cyber-fraud network.
Defense
Prosecution / Court
Sharma's role in Aerobott Ventures
Defense
Sharma was merely an employee who was made a director without his consent, so he should be granted bail.
Prosecution / Court
He was associated with the company for about five years and shown as its director, so he could not be unaware of its business; custodial interrogation is needed to trace funds and recover evidence.
Key facts
- Court
- Additional Sessions Judge Samar Vishal, Delhi
- Accused
- Ajay Sharma
- Alleged loss
- Rs 34.88 lakh
- Fraud method
- Investment pitch via Facebook and WhatsApp
- Linked company
- M/s Aerobott Ventures Pvt Ltd
- Related complaints
- Nine cyber fraud cases in different states
- Amount in accused-linked account
- Rs 8.20 crore
- Bail order date
- August 11
Quotes
Additional Sessions Judge Samar Vishal
Judge presiding over the cyber‑fraud bail case
“Granting protection from arrest at this stage may impede the efforts of the investigating agency to trace the funds, recover digital evidence and ascertain the complete structure of the alleged cyber‑fraud network.”
theprint.in
Sources
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