Mumbai, February 22, 2022: In a significant ruling, the Sessions Court for Greater Mumbai has granted bail to Indravijay Krishnakumar Singh, a 25-year-old resident of Uttar Pradesh, who was arrested in connection with a cyber fraud case involving over Rs. 50 lakh. The case was registered under C.R. No. 26 of 2021 at the West Region Cyber Crime Police Station, Mumbai, and Juhu Police Station C.R. No. 344 of 2020.
Case Background
The case was initiated following a complaint filed by Harshad Kantilal Patel on October 21, 2020. According to the FIR, Patel received a phone call on February 15, 2020, from a person who identified himself as Rahul Sharma, a resident of Noida, Delhi. The caller informed Patel that he was eligible to receive an insurance payout of Rs. 4.5 lakh and instructed him to deposit Rs. 21,000 in an IndusInd Bank account as a processing fee.
Trusting the caller’s instructions, Patel transferred the initial amount via RTGS on February 17, 2020. Over the following months, Patel continued making payments as per further instructions, eventually depositing a total of Rs. 50,77,000 between February and October 2020. Upon realizing that he had been deceived, Patel reported the fraud to the police, leading to the arrest of Singh, the owner of the bank account in question, on October 29, 2021.
Legal Proceedings
Singh was charged under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, which pertain to identity theft and cheating through electronic means. He was in judicial custody since his arrest.
The prosecution opposed the bail plea, citing the serious nature of the offense and the significant financial loss incurred by the victim. They also pointed out that Singh had a prior case of similar nature, C.R. No. 41 of 2021, registered at Anand Nagar Police Station, Usmanabad. However, his defense argued that the investigation was complete, and the charge sheet had been filed, making his continued detention unnecessary.
Court’s Decision
After reviewing the case details, Additional Sessions Judge R.M. Sadrani noted that the maximum punishment prescribed for the alleged offenses is seven years. Considering that Singh had already spent a considerable time in custody, and the investigation was complete, the court decided to grant bail.
Bail Conditions
As per the court’s order:
- Singh was released on bail upon executing a personal bond of Rs. 1,00,000 with one or more sureties of the same amount.
- He must furnish his detailed address and contact information at the time of furnishing bail.
- He is required to report to the West Region Cyber Crime Police Station on the 1st of every month between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. until the trial concludes.
- He must not influence or intimidate any witnesses in the case.
- He is prohibited from leaving India without prior permission from the court.
Conclusion
This ruling highlights the legal system’s approach to balancing an accused individual’s right to bail with the need for accountability in financial fraud cases. While Singh has been released on bail, he remains under judicial scrutiny as the trial proceeds.
As cyber fraud cases continue to rise, authorities urge citizens to remain vigilant and avoid sharing financial details over unsolicited phone calls. The case also underscores the importance of stringent cybercrime laws and their enforcement to curb such fraudulent activities in the future.
For further updates on this case and other legal developments, stay tuned.
