Mumbai, February 16, 2024: The Sessions Court of Greater Mumbai rejected the bail application of Ayyapan Murgeshan, an accused in an online fraud case involving Rs. 3 lakh. The case, registered under Crime No. 89/2023 at the N.M. Joshi Marg Police Station, includes charges under Sections 419 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.
The prosecution alleges that the accused, along with co-conspirators, defrauded the complainant, Smt. Shradha Ujwal Bhure, by hacking her bank account after deceiving her with a fraudulent credit card offer. The defrauded amount was used to purchase gold ornaments from Tanishq Chennai, which was later sold, and the funds were distributed among the accused. The investigation revealed that a portion of the defrauded amount was transferred to the applicant’s bank account.
Advocate Shilpa Sharma, representing the accused, argued that Murgeshan was falsely implicated, had no direct involvement in the offense, and was not a beneficiary of the fraudulent transaction. She further contended that co-accused had been granted bail and sought parity for her client. The prosecution, represented by APP Ramesh Siroya, opposed the bail, citing the severity of the crime, the potential for tampering with evidence, and the increasing trend of online fraud cases.
The court noted that two previous bail applications by the accused had been denied, with no new circumstances justifying a different decision. Additional Sessions Judge R.R. Patare, while delivering the verdict, highlighted the seriousness of the offense and the growing threat of online financial fraud. Given the strong evidence connecting the accused to the crime, the possibility of witness tampering, and the gravity of the offense, the court denied the bail application.
The court’s decision reinforces the judiciary’s commitment to tackling cyber fraud and protecting victims from financial deception. The case will now proceed to trial, with further legal proceedings expected in due course.
