Mayank Gupta v. State of Haryana

o 1o o o 208o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o CRM-M-3832-2026oCRM 3832 2026 o MayankoGuptaoo ….Petitionero versuso o StateoofoHaryanaoo ….Respondento o Dateoofodecision:oFebruaryo19,o2026o DateoofoUploading:oFebruaryo23,o2026o o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo o Present:-o Mr.oGauravoGupta,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o o Ms.oPriyankaoSadaroThakur,oSenioroDAGoHaryana.oo o ***** SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(ORAL)oo o o o Presento petitiono haso beeno filedo undero Sectiono 482o ofo theo BharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023o(foroshorto'BNSS')oonobehalfoofo theo petitionero seekingo granto ofo anticipatory/pre-arresto bail,o ino caseo FIRo No.0069odatedo19.08.2025,oregisteredounderoSectionso316(2)/o318(4)oofotheo BharatiyaoNyayaoSanhita,o2023o(foroshorto'BNS'),oatoPoliceoStationoCybero CrimaoAmbala,oDistrictoAmbala.oo

2.oo o Theo prosecutiono case,o ino brief,o iso thato complainant,o namely,o SakshioGupta,ohadomadeotheofollowingocomplaint:oo "Onodatedo10.08.025,omyohusbandoonohisomobileono.o72060-40235,o receivedoaoWhatsAppomessageofromoanounknownomobileono.o92011-22387o atoaroundo08:15oforoaopart-timeojob.oTheodetailoofomessageoisoasounder:o "Hello,o1oamoElakshioBhatia,otheopersonoInchargeoofopart-timeorecruitmento inotheoHRodepartmentoofoBajajoFinance.oWeoareocurrentlyoexpandingoouro

o o o 2o o teamoandowouldolikeotooinviteoyouotoojoinous.oOuropartotimeojoboisosimple:o justo giveo ao 5-staro ratingo too theo restauranto oro hotelo weo review.o Aftero completingoeachotask,oyouowilloreceiveoaobonusoofoRs.o210orupees.oYouocano earno4000-14000orupeesooroevenomoreoperoday.oAreoyouoreadyotoojoinous?"o (Copyoenclosed).oMyohusbandoaskedomeoaboutothisoandoheotoldoherothatomyo wifeoisoreadyotoojoin.oTheoscammerohasoaskedotoocompleteoregistrationobyo givingoName,ogender,oAgeoandoTelegramoAppoYesooroNo?oMyohusbandohaso giveno myo detailso too theo scammer.o Scammero haso askedo too downloado telegramoappoforopayrolloandoIohaveodownloadedotheotelegramoappoandomyo husbandohasoinformedoheroaboutodownloadocompletionoofotelegramoapp.o Scammero haso giveno ao tasko witho Stepo 1o clicko ono linko 3oratingo5-staroStepo4otakeoaoscreenoshotoshowoher.oThenoit'sodoneoyouowillo geto210rsoimmediately.oIohaveocompletedotheostepsoandomyohusbandohaso forwardedotheoscreenshototootheoscammer.oFurtheroscammerohasoaskedomyo husbandotooopenotelegramoaccountoandoaddotheoreceptionistoUseroNameo @vardhikaoLinkohttps://t.me/vardhika9oandoaskedotoocontactoviaoTelegramo tooreceiveopayoofo210orupeesobyoprovidingopayocode(W1001).oScreenshotso ofo chattingso ino Whatsappo citedo aboveo areo enclosedo herewitho ando alsoo providedo ino pafo formato througho mobile.o Io haveo clickedo ono theo Linko introduceoasoElakshioBhatia)oandoIohaveoprovidedopayocode(W1001)ogiveno byo scammero too Vardhikao Rawato byo matchingo Usero Nameo @vardhika9.o VardhikaoRawatohasostatedomeoinotelegramothatosheoisomyoreceptionistoando askomeosheowilloarrangeoaojoboforomeoandoaskedotooreceiveoaojobosalaryoofo 210o Rs.?o Sheo haso verifiedo successfullyo codeo (W1001)o providedo byo theo scammer.oSheohasoregisteredomeoasoaopartotimeoemployeeowithothemobyo takingomyodetails.oMyoaccountodetailsowereosubmittedotootheirofinancialo department.o Myo accounto no.3290000102058163o waso creditedo witho Rs.o 210/-oono10-08-2025oato09:03oAM.oVardhikaoRawatohasoprovidedoTasko RuleoChanneloGuideo(2).txtowhichoisoasounder:o"Youoperformedoveryowello today.oIowillonotoassignoyouoanyotasksonow.oTaskoChanneloandoshowotheo linkoGuide:oEveryodayofromo9oamotoo6opm,oaotaskoisoreleasedoeveryo10-20o minutes,oaototaloofo21otasksoperoday.oSalaryoandobenefits:oCompleteotaskso1-2-3:o150orupees.oCompleteotaskso4-5-6:o150orupeesoCompleteotaskso7-8-9:o 210orupees.oCompleteotaskso10-11-12:o210orupees.oCompleteotaskso13-14-15:o210orupees.oCompleteotaskso16-17-18:o210orupees.oCompleteotaskso19-20-21:o 210o rupeeso (Salaryo willo beo settledo aftero completingo 3o tasks)o Completeoallo21otasksoandoyouowillogetoanoadditionalo5000orupeesoreward,o withoaominimumodailyoincomeoofo11260orupees.oIowillosendoyouotheogroupo linkoato4:40opmoinotheoevening.oYouoneedotoostudyoinotheoworkingogroupo andowilloalsooreceiveotasksoinothisogroup.oPleaseopayoattentionotooTelegramo messages.oDear,opleaseorememberotoologoinoato4:40opmotoojoinotheotasko releaseogroup?oOuroadminowilloaddoyouotoogroupoVIP,oyouojustojoinotheo groupo screenshot."o Io haveo joinedo meo telegramo groupo https://t.me/+Ms2i72481ZA1MDg?o -providedo byo Vardhikao Rawato (TelegramoUseroNameo@vardhika9),oVardhikaoRawatohasoconfirmedomyo joiningoinothatogroupo(Groupo30)owhenoIosendoheroaoscreenshotoofojoining.o Sheoaskedomeotoostayoactiveoatotomorrowomorningoforoworkoato8:40oAm.o Becauseo tasko 1o willo starto ato 9Amo ino group.o Ono 11-08-2025,o Vardhikao Rawato(TelegramoUseroNameo@vardhika9)ohasoinformedomeoato09:00othato Tasko1oSTARToNOWocheckotheogroupoopenotasko1olinkogiveo5ostaroando sendomeoaoscreenshotohere.oIohaveocompletedotheotaskotooopenotheolinko provided,oi.e.owasolocationoofoaorestaurantoandoscreenshotoofolinkoopenedo (OpenoAiroRestaurant)owasosentotooherothenotasko2oando3ocompletedosimilaro tootasko1,ohoweverolocationsooforestaurantsowereodifferentoandoscreenshotso wereosentotooher.oMyobankoaccountono.3290000102058163owasocreditedo

o o o 3o o withoRs.o150/-oono11-08-2025oato09:22oAM.oIohaveocompletedotasko4oando5,o similarotooTasko1,2oando3.oNextoTasko6owasoreleasedoato10:10oAmoono11-08-2025owithotheomessageothato"tasko6oisoaowelfareotask.oTheomerchantowillo giveo youo ao 30%o commission.o Youo needo too transfero theo moneyo too theo merchantoaccountotoohelpotheohoteloorderoroomsoandoincreaseotheonumberoofo hoteloorders,osoothatoyouocanogetoaogenerousorebate.oItowilloarriveoino10o minutes,o becauseo thereo willo beo ao professionalo mentoro too guideo youo too completeotheoorder.oToocompleteothisotaskoeveryoemployeeoneedsotoochooseo theoamountoinotheoprojectochartsoandomakeoaopaymentotoojoinotheoshare,o Exampleo youo joino ao shareo foro Rs.1000/-o youo willo geto backo Rs.o 1450/-o withino 10o too 15o minutes.o Thiso iso ano importanto tasko youo needo too openo merchantoaccount.oSinceothisoisoyourofirstotime,oIosuggestoyouochooseo1000o andogiveoitoaotry.o"Iohaveochoseno1000oasosuggestedoandopaidoRs.o1000/-otoo theoUPIoIdoseemamehra5494@okhdfcbankoasotheoQRoCodeoprovidedobyo theo Vardhikao Rawato (Telegramo Usero Nameo @vardhika9).o Sheo furthero askedomeotooregisteroaomerchantoaccountotoocompleteotheotaskoandoprovidedo aolinkohttps://hotlo-tuiovs.ccotooregisteroaomerchantoaccountowithoInvitationo Codeo716625.oIohaveosuccessfullyosignoupotheomerchantoaccountowithotheo helpoofoheroando1findomyomerchantoaccountoIDo389944.Sheofurtheroaskedo meotoo"Pleaseoaddotheomerchantotutorohttps://t.me/NikhiloReddyo47oHeowillo guideo youo howo too completeo theo task,o tello theo tutoro youro Tasko Code:o A1056227.oPleaseotextotoohimoheoisoyourotutorotoday.oHeowillohelpoyouo completeotheonextogreatojob,"oIohaveoclickoonotheolinkohttps://t.me/Nikhilo Reddyo47andoTaskoCode:oA1056227owasotaskoandoprocessingoamountoforo you.oInotheofurtherotaskoyouocanosendodirectotoohim.oThankoyouosentotoo Nikhilo Reddyo (Usero Nameo @Nikhilo Reddyo 47)o ono telegramo ando theo screenshotoofotheosameowasoalsoosentotooVardhikaoRawato(TelegramoUsero Nameo @vardhika9).o Further,o Nikhilo Reddyo (Telegramo Usero Nameo @NikhilReddy_47)ohasopostedomessageoonomyotelegramo"Hello,oniceotoo meetoyou,o1oamoyourotaskomentor,o/owilloleadoyouotoocompleteotheotaskoando earnocommissions.oYouroinformationohasobeenosuccessfullyoenteredointoo theosystemoandotheotaskocodeoA10S6227ohasotakenoeffect.o/owilloteachoyouo howotoouseotheoRs.o1000/-oyouojustorechargedotooearnoRs.o300/.oOk?"oHeo guidedomeotoocompleteotheotaskoandoIohaveocompletedotheotaskoaccordinglyo ando Usero Nameo @NikhilReddyo 47)o providedo meo theo Receptionisto linko [https://t.me/Akankshao Roshni].o Myo Merchanto accounto (ID389944)o balanceobecomeso1300.oFurther,oNikhiloReddyo(TelegramoandoWithdrawalo Code:oAE1300KWoandoaskedotoosendothisocodeotooyouroreceptionist,onowo sheo willo beo responsibleo foro theo formalo tasko ando youro salaryo ando withdrawal".o /o haveo clicko ono theo linko https://t.me/AkankshaRoshnilo providedobyotheoNikhiloReddyo(TelegramoUseroNameo@NikhilReddy_47)o ando1ohaveosentotheoWithdrawaloCode:oAE1300KWotooAkankshaoRoshnio (https://t.me/Akankshao Roshni1)(Telegramo Usero Nameo Akankshao Roshnil).oSheohasopostedomeoaomessageoonotelegramo"Helloodear,o1oamo AkankshaoRoshnioyouropersonaloreceptionistoandoitoisomyopleasureotooserveo you.oSheohasoaskedomyobankoaccountodetailsoandoIohaveosubmittedotooher.o Sheo haso postedo ao screenshoto ofo paymento successfulo ofo Rs.o 1450/-o video referenceono.UTR/RRNo522310813064oono11-08-2025oato10:55oAmoando1o haveoconfirmedotheoamountoreceived.oThereafter,otasko7,o8oando9ocompletedo similarotootasko1,2oando3oi.e.osendingoofoscreenshotsoofoclickingoonotheolinko providedoinoGroupo30owhichowereodifferentorestaurantsolocations.oIohaveo receivedosalaryoofoRs.o210/-othroughotransactionoIDo16395975493oono11-08-2025.o Thereafter,o tasko 10o ando 11o wereo completedo similaro too tasko 1,2,3,4,5,7,o8oando9oi.e.osendingoofoscreenshotsobyoclickingoonotheolinko providedo ino Groupo 30o whicho wereo differento restaurantso locations.o Thereafter,otasko12owasoreleasedosimilarotootasko6oandoAkankshaoRoshnio (Receptionist)osuggestedomeotoochooseo1o(1000),oIochooseoRs.o1000/-oaso

o o o 4o o suggestedobyoheroandopaidoRs.o1000/-otoosameoUPIoIDoofotasko6.oIohaveo earnedoprofitoofoRs.o300/-oonoRs.o1000/-oaccordingotootaskoandoshowsomyo merchantoaccountobutoamountoofoRs.o1300/-owasonotocreditedoyetoinomyo bankoaccount,oinotheosameotasko12,oRs.o2000/-owereoalsootoobeopaidoino2o stepsoaccordingotoolinkopostedoinoGroupo30owhichogivesosuretyoofoprofitoofo Rs.o600/,oSo,oIohaveofurtherorechargeoforoRs.o2000/-oandopaidotootheoUPIoIDo ofo Ashutosho Pawaro i.e.o ashutoshdpawar901@oksbiaso providedo byo Akankshao Roshnio (Receptionist)o UPIo refo no.o 689003321881o ono 11-08-2025o ato 12:31o PM.o Paymento ofo totalo amounto Rs.o 4110/-o (1000+300o profit+2000+600profit+210(salaryoofothreeotasko10,11o&12)]owasocreditedo toomyobankoaccountono.3290000102058163obyoUTRo522399116392oono11-08-2025o ato 12:58:21o PM.o Thereafter,o tasko 13o ando 14o wereo completedo similaro too tasko 1,2,3,4,5,7,o 8,9,10o &o 11o i.e.o sendingo ofo screenshotso byo clickingoonotheolinkoprovidedoinoGroupo30owhichowereodifferentorestaurantso locations.oTasko15owasoreleasedosimilarotootasko6oando12obutoitohasothreeo steps.oIohaveochosenoRs.o3000oino1"ostepoandopaidoRs.o3000/-otootheoUPIoIDo ofo Ravio Sharmao i.e.o raviraj13072001-1@okaxiso referenceo no.o 689007830081oasoIDowasoprovidedobyoAkankshaoRoshnio(Receptionist)oono 11-08-2025oato02:05oPM.oThisotaskohasobornoseparatedoinotelegramogroupo byotheoteamoofoscammersowithotheonameoofogroupoProjectoX132oTasko15'o witho5omembersoinowhichomyself,ooneoTaskoMentoroie.oScammero(Nikhilo ReddyousingotelegramoUseroNameoNikhiloReddyo47)oando3ootheromemberso teamoofoscammersowhichobuiltotrustotoomeoinothinoscamooneoofowhichoiso KandheioRoyotelegramouseronameo@Roy_269/owereoinothatogroupoofo5o members.o Ino theo 2o stepso ofo Tasko 15,o Akankshao Roshnio (Receptionist)o askedo meo too addo Rs.o 10000o ino theo UPIo IDo ofo Yogendrao Solankio i.e.o nikkirajasolanka1234-3@okaxiso ando Io haveo paido Rs.o 10900-video UPIo referenceono.o289781954279oono11-08-2025oato02:44oPM.oInotheo3ostepsoofo Tasko15.oAkankshaoRoshnio(Receptionist)oaskedomeotooaddoRs.o35000oino theo banko accounto no.309029462898o ofo Mayanko Guptao IFSCo RATN0000138oRBLoBankoBranchoJainpurwasoandoIohaveopaidoRs.o35000/-o inothisoaccountothroughoUPIoreferenceono.o689011191253oono11-08-2025oato 03:34oPM.o3ostepsowereocompletedobutoamountoofotasko15owasonotoyeto creditedo ino myo banko account.o Ino theo meantime,o Io haveo completedo tasko 16,17o ando 18o postedo ino telegramo Groupo 30o similaro too tasko 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11,o 13o &o 14o ando Akankshao Roshnio (Receptionist)o creditedo myo banko accounto 3290000102058163o witho Rs.o 210/-(salaryo ofo threeotasks)obyotransactionoID16399769450oono11-08-2025oato03:35PM.oIno theo meantime,o Io haveo completedo tasko 19,20o ando 21o postedo ino telegramo Groupo 30o similaro too tasko 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11,o 13,o 14,o 16,17,18o ando Akankshao Roshnio (Receptionist)o creditedo myo banko accounto 3290000102058163owithoRs.o210/-salaryoofothreeotasks)oono11-05-2025oato 04:50PM.oTasko15owasonotoyetoclosedobyotheoteamoofoscammersoandoaskedo forcedotoodepositomeorepeatedlyobyoAkankshaoRoshnio(Receptionist)oando TaskoMentoroNikhiloReddyobyomanipulatingowithomistakesowithotheohelpoofo otherothreeomembersoofogroupo"ProjectoX132oTasko15'owhichowereoalsooino theoteamoofotheseoscammersoandoIohaveodepositedotheoamountoasotoldobyo themo ono 11-08-2025,o 12-08-2025o ando 13-08-2025.o Ato lasto Akankshao Roshnio (Receptionist)o referredo meo too newo receptionisto Maniko Nikitao (TelegramoUseroNameo@manikonikita)oono12-08-2025oato13:20oandosheo alsoomadeoseamowithomeoandoIohaveodepositedotheofollowingomoneyowitho theohelpoofomyohusbandofromotheoSBIobankoaccountono.o20150590158oofo myo husbando (Sh.o Sohano Lal)o too theo followingo banko accountso detailso providedobyotheoteamoofoscammersoasotoldobyothemoduringochattingsoono telegramo aso ander.1.o Rs.o 696040/-o ono 12-08-2025o video UTRo SBINR52025081295224770othroughoRTGSotooChhaganoLal,oAccountono.o 500101014242753o ofo Cityo Uniono Banko ISROo Layouto Bangaloreo (IFSCo

o o o 5o o CIU30000640),o 2.o Rs.o 112000/-o ono 12-08-2025o video UTRo SBIN125224604046o througho NEFTo too Dihorao Kalpesho Bhalo Hasmukho BhaioAccountoNo.o5838541022oofoCentraloBankoofoIndiaoAmrolio(IFSCo CHIN0280514)o ando 3.o Rs.o 313218/-ono 13-08-2025o video UTRo SHINRS2025081395327049o througho RTGSo too Mohammedo Khadero Alio Khano Accounto No.o 50010101430214o ofo Cityo Uniono Banko Siddiambero BazaroHyderabado(IFSCoCIUB0000264),oScammersohaveoalsoodepositedo amountoofoRs.o10000/-inomyoaccountoono12-08-2025oato01:26oPMovideo IMPSoRefonoo522413083035otoobuildotrust.oTheyohaveoalsoocreditedomyo accountowithoaoveryosmalloamountoofoRs.o210/etc.oofowhichototaloofoapprox.o Rs.o2000operodayoono12-08-2025oando13-08-2025oforootherotasksoofosendingo ofoscreenshotsoofolocationsoofodifferentorestaurantsohotelsoGroupo'Projecto X132o Tasko 15"o waso alreadyo removedo byo Tasko Mentoro Nikhilo Reddyo knowinglyoandoheohasoalsoonowodeletedohisoTelegramoUseroNameoNikhilo Reddyo47oandonowoshowsoasodeletedoaccountobutochattingsoareoavailable,o howeveroIohaveoalreadyomadeopdfofromogoogleodriveofromomyohusband'so mobileoofoallochattingsowithomeobyotheoscammersoexceptochattingoofoGroupo Projecto X132o Tasko 15"o waso alreadyo removedo byo Tasko Mentoro Nikhilo ReddyoSo,oIoamoenclosingoallotelegramochatsoofoscammersoVardhikaoRawat,o AkankshaoRoshni,oNikhiloReddy,oGroupo30,oManikoNikita,oKandheioRoy)o andoWhatsappochatoofomobileono.o+91o9201122387ElakshiBhatiaoNow,omyo merchanto account(ID389944)o iso showingo balanceo ofo Rs.o 1477278/-o buto Scammerso areo noto creditingo theo amounto ofo Rs.o 1477278/-o ino myo banko account.oLinkoofomyomerchantoaccounto1https://hotlo-tajovs.ccoandothisoiso linkedo witho Marriotto Hotelo aso showing.o Theyo haveo madeo scamo witho showingothisoasoaomerchantoaccount.oIoamonowofallingovictimotoothisoscam.o Chattingsoofoscammersoteamofromo10-08-2025otoo14-08-2025oareoenclosedo herewithoasoattachmentsoinopdfoforoyouroreferenceoandofurtheroactionotoofindo outotheoscammersoandostrictoactionsoagainstothemoasoperolawoandomakeoyouro bestoeffortsotoorefundomyoaforesaidomoneyoplease.oItoisothereforeorequestedo tookindlyomakeoyourobestoeffortsotoorefundomyoaforesaidomoneyobyotakingo fromotheoaforesaidoscammersoasosoonoasopossibleopleaseoIoshallobeohighlyo thank/julo too youo oro this.o Witho profoundo Regardso Yourso sincerely,o SD-SakshioGuptaoW/ooSh.oSohanoLaloV.P.O.oBibipuroDistt.oJindoNoworesidingo atoH.oNo.o30,oAsaoSinghoGarden,o BaldevoNagar,oAmbalaoCity-134007,o MobileoNo.o9896957597oMyohusbandoContactono.7206040235odatedo19-08-2025."o o

3.o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerohasoiteratedothatotheopetitionero hasobeenofalselyoimplicatedointootheoFIRoinoquestion.oLearnedocounselohaso furtheroiteratedothatoheohasonooconnectionowithotheocomplainant.oTheoFIRo containsovague,obaldoandounsubstantiatedoallegationsowithoutoattributingoanyo specificoroleotootheopetitioner.oLearnedocounselohasofurtherosubmittedothatooneo ofotheofriendsoofotheopetitioner,onamely,oRohitoMeenaohadotoldotheopetitionero thatosomeoneohadodepositedoanoamountoofo`35,000/-oinotheoaccountoofotheo petitioner,o ando ino goodo faith,o ono theo askingo ofo saido Rohito Meena,o theo

o o o 6o o petitionerohadogotowithdrawnotheoaforesaidoamountoofo`35,000/-ofromohiso bankoaccountoandohanded-overotheosameotooRohitoMeena.oLearnedocounselo hasoiteratedothatoapartofromothis,otheopetitionerohasonothingotoodoowithotheo offence/omoneyoinoquestion.oLearnedocounselohasosubmittedothatotheocaseo restso entirelyo ono documentaryo evidenceo allo ofo whicho iso alreadyo ino theo possessionoofotheoinvestigatingoagency.oo

3.1.o o Learnedocounselohasofurtherosubmittedothatothereoisonooneedoforo custodialointerrogationoofotheopetitioneroasonothingoincriminatingoremainsotoo beorecoveredofromohim.oMoreover,othereoisonoolikelihoodoofotheopetitionero abscondingofromotheoprocessoofojusticeoorotamperingowithotheoprosecutiono evidence,oinocase,oheoisoenlargedoonopre-arrestobail.oOnostrengthoofotheseo submissions,otheograntoofoanticipatoryobailoisoentreatedofor.oo

4.oo o Perocontra,olearnedoStateocounselohasofiledoreplyobyowayoofoano affidavitodatedo13.02.2026,oinotheoCourtotoday,owhichoisotakenoonorecord.o Raisingosubmissionsoinotandemowithotheosaidoreply,olearnedoStateocounselohaso opposedotheograntoofoanticipatoryobailotootheopetitionerobyoarguingothatotheo offenceocommittedobyotheopetitioneroisoseriousoinonature.oTheorelevantoofotheo aforesaidoreplyoreadsothus:o "13.o Thato aso faro aso roleo ofo theo accused-petitionero iso concerned,o theo accused-petitionero haso beeno bookedo undero Sectionso 316o (2)o ando 318o(4)oBNSoandotheoallegationsoareoseriousoandograveoinonature,oaso ano amounto ofo Rs.35,000/-o haso beeno sento directlyo througho UPIo paymentobyotheoComplainant,oonotheoaskingoofoRohitoMeenaowhooiso ano acquaintanceo ofo theo accused-petitioner.o Thus,o theo accused-petitioneroinothisoway,ohasocommittedotheooffencesounderoSectionso 316o (2)o ando 318o (4)o BNS.o Therefore,o theo Stateo ofo Haryanao iso respectfullyosubmittingobeforeothisoHon'bleoCourtothatotheopresento criminalo miscellaneouso petitiono ofo theo accused-petitionero mayo kindlyobeodismissedowithocost."o o

o o o 7o o o o Accordingo too learnedo Stateo counsel,o theo petitionero haso beeno specificallyoattributedotheoroleoofocheatingotheocomplainantoafteroconspiringo witho hiso co-accused,o namely,o Rohito Meena.o Learnedo Stateo counselo haso furtherosubmittedothatotheoeconomicooffencesoinvolvingomisuseoofobankingo systemso areo seriouso ino natureo affectingo societyo ato largeo ando thorougho custodialointerrogationoofotheopetitioneroisoimperativeotoouncoverotheoentireo conspiracyoandotheofinancialotrail.oTheoinvestigatingoagencyoisostilloinotheo processo ofo gatheringo evidenceo foro whicho custodialo interrogationo ofo theo petitioneroisonecessary.oConsideringotheoseriousnessoofotheoallegationsoandotheo stageoofoinvestigationodismissaloofotheoinstantopetitionoisoprayedofor.oo

5.oo o Iohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheorivalopartiesoandohaveo goneothroughotheoavailableorecordoofotheocase.oo

6.oo o AsoperotheocaseoputoforthoinotheoFIRoinoquestion,oindubitably,o seriouso allegationso haveo beeno levelledo againsto theo petitioner.o Fromo theo perusaloofoimpugnedoorder,oitoisoborneooutothatolearnedoCourtobelowohado observedothatoincidentsoinvolvingocyberofraud,oparticularlyothoseotargetingo innocentoindividuals,ohaveowitnessedoaosignificantoandoalarmingorise.oItohaso beeno foundo byo learnedo Courto belowo thato theo petitionero hado adoptedo contradictoryo standso witho respecto too theo amounto ofo `35,000/-o thato waso directlyocreditedotoohisobankoaccount.oFurther,olearnedoCourtobelowoobservedo thatoinconsistencyoinotheostandotakenobyotheopetitioneroraisesoseriousodoubtso regardingo theo veracityo ofo theo defenceo puto forth,o and,o noo plausibleo oro satisfactoryoexplanationohasobeenofurnishedoasotoohowotheopetitioner'sobanko accountosurfacedoinosimilarocasesoregisteredoinodifferentoStates.oo

o o o 8o o

6.1.o o Theo allegationso relateo too unlawfulo financialo activitieso ando suspectedofraudowhichoconstitutesoeconomicooffencesoofoaoseriousonature.oAto thisostage,othereoisosufficientomaterialosuggestingothatotheopetitioneroplayedoano activeoroleoinofacilitatingotheotransactionoinoquestion.oTheocontentionoofotheo petitionerothatoheohasonooconnectionowithotheoco-accusedocannotobeoacceptedo atothisostage,oparticularlyowhenotheopreliminaryoinvestigationopointotowardso theocomplicityoofotheopetitioneroinotheooffenceoinoquestion.oTheoexactonatureo andoextentoofotheoinvolvementoofotheopetitionerorequiresodeeperoinvestigationo forowhichocustodialointerrogationoofotheopetitioneromayobeoessential.oo

7.o o Itoisobefittingotoomentionohereothatoadjudicationoofobailopleas,o particularlyoinocasesoconcerningocybercrimesoandoonlineofraud,onecessitateoao meticulousoevaluationoofoseveralopivotalofactors.oTheoparamountofactoroisotheo nature,o gravityo ando seriousnesso ofo theo offense,o coupledo witho itso potentialo societaloramifications.oTheoproliferationoofoonlineofraudsoandocybercrimeso posesoaosignificantothreat,oasoitosystematicallyoerodesopublicoconfidenceoino digitalo financialo transactiono platforms.o Sucho erosiono runso countero too theo aspirationsoofoanoadvancedoandodigitallyoempoweredo"DigitaloBharat"oand,o thus,o warrantso ao heightenedo degreeo ofo judicialo circumspection.o Theseo offenseso areo characterizedo byo theiro capacityo too aggrieveo ao multitudeo ofo victimso simultaneously,o ofteno witho ao singleo acto ofo commission.o Theo deleteriouso consequenceso ofocybercrimeso transcendo individualo boundaries,o imperilingo numerouso unsuspectingo citizens.o Theo gravityo ofo sucho transgressionsocannot,otherefore,obeounderstated.oTheyonotoonlyojeopardizeo theofinancialosecurityoandotrustoreposedobyoindividualsoinofinancialopaymento

o o o 9o o gatewaysoandoplatforms,obutoalsooinherentlyoexposeotheobroaderopopulaceotoo analogousothreats.oIndeed,ocybercrimeoinoouronationooperatesoakinotooaosilento viruso―oinsidious,odisruptive,oandoexactingoaotolloonosocietyothatoextendsofaro beyondomereopecuniaryoloss,oencompassingotheobedrockoofotrust,osecurity,o andonationaloprogress.oo

7.1.o o Givenotheoinherentonatureoandoprofoundogravityoofosuchooffenseso ando theiro wide-rangingo cascadingo effectso ono botho societyo ando financialo institutions,o thiso Courto findso itselfo disinclinedo too granto theo reliefo ofo anticipatoryobailoasoprayedofor.oToodoootherwiseowouldobeotooturnoaoNelson'so eyeo too theo profoundo ando far-reachingo detrimentalo impacto ofo theseo digitalo depredations.oAtothisostage,othereoisonoomaterialoonorecordotooholdothatoprimao facieocaseoisonotomadeooutoagainstotheopetitioner.oTheomaterialowhichohaso comeoonorecordoandopreliminaryoinvestigation,oappearotoobeoestablishedoao reasonableo basiso foro theo accusations.o Thus,o ito iso noto appropriateo too granto anticipatoryobailotootheopetitioner,oasoitowouldonecessarilyocauseoimpedimento inoeffectiveoinvestigation.oo

8.o o Moreover,onoocauseonayoplausibleocauseohasobeenoshown,oatothiso stage,ofromowhichoitocanobeodecipheredothatotheopetitionerohasobeenofalselyo implicatedointootheopresentoFIR.oItogoesowithoutosayingothatoinotheoinstanto case,otheoallegationsoagainstotheopetitioneroareoseriousoinonatureoinvolvingotheo misuseoofobankoaccountoforoillegalofinancialotransaction.oTheoinvestigationoiso atonascentostage.oItoisofurtherobefittingotoomentionohereothatowhileoconsideringo aopleaoforograntoofoanticipatoryobail,otheoCourtohasotooequilibrateobetweeno safeguardingoindividualorightsoandoprotectingosocietalointerests.oTheoCourto

o o o 10o o oughto too reckono witho theo magnitudeo ando natureo ofo theo offence;o theo roleo attributedotootheoaccused;otheoneedoforofairoandofreeoinvestigationoasoalsootheo deeperoandowideoimpactoofosuchoallegedoiniquitiesoonotheosociety.oAtothiso stage,othereoisonoomaterialoonorecordotooholdothatoprimaofacieocaseoisonotomadeo outo againsto theo petitioner.o Theo materialo whicho haso comeo ono recordo ando preliminaryoinvestigation,oappearotoobeoestablishedoaoreasonableobasisoforotheo accusations.o o Thus,o ito iso noto appropriateo too granto anticipatoryo bailo too theo petitioner,o aso ito wouldo necessarilyo causeo impedimento ino effectiveo investigation.oInoStateov.oAniloSharma,o(1997)o7oSCCo187o:o1997oSCCo(Cri)o 1039,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoheldoasounder:o(SCCop.o189,oparao6)oo "6.oo WeofindoforceoinotheosubmissionoofoCBIothatocustodialointerrogationo isoqualitativelyomoreoelicitation-orientedothanoquestioningoaosuspectowhooiso well-ensconcedowithoaofavourableoorderounderoSectiono438oofotheoCode.oInoao caseolikeothis,oeffectiveointerrogationoofoaosuspectedopersonoisoofotremendouso advantageoinodisinterringomanyousefuloinformationsoandoalsoomaterialsowhicho wouldohaveobeenoconcealed.oSuccessoinosuchointerrogationowouldoeludeoifotheo suspectedopersonoknowsothatoheoisowelloprotectedoandoinsulatedobyoaopre-arresto bailoorderoduringotheotimeoheoisointerrogated.oVeryooftenointerrogationoinosucho aoconditionowouldoreduceotooaomereoritual.oTheoargumentothatotheocustodialo interrogationoisofraughtowithotheodangeroofotheopersonobeingosubjectedotoothird-degreeo methodso needo noto beo countenanced,o for,o sucho ano argumento cano beo advancedobyoalloaccusedoinoallocriminalocases.oTheoCourtohasotoopresumeothato responsibleopoliceoofficersowouldoconductothemselvesoinoaoresponsibleomannero ando thato thoseo entrustedo witho theo tasko ofo disinterringo offenceso wouldo noto conductothemselvesoasooffenders."o o

9.o o Ino viewo ofo theo gravityo ofo theo allegations,o theo natureo ofo theo offenceo ando theo pendingo recoverieso ando theo requiremento ofo theo custodialo interrogationo foro ao fairo ando thorougho investigation,o thiso Courto iso ofo theo consideredoopinionothatotheopetitionerodoesonotodeserveotheoconcessionoofo anticipatoryobailoinotheofactualomilieuoofotheocaseoinohand.oo

10.oo o Inoviewoofotheoprevenientoratiocination,oitoisoordainedothus:oo

(i)oo Theoinstantopetitionoisodevoidoofomeritsoandoisoherebyodismissed;oo

o o o 11o o

(ii)oo Nothingosaidohereinaboveoshallobeodeemedotoobeoanoexpressiono ofoopinionouponomeritsoofotheocase/investigation;o

(iii)oo Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedooff.o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o ooo o oooooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o ooooooJUDGEo Februaryo19,o2026oo mahavirooo o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo

o o