Dilip Dayabhai Dhoriyani v. CBI
$~96 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + BAIL APPLN. 589/2026 DILIP DAYABHAI DHORIYANI .....Petitioner Through:
Mr.
A.K.
Tripathi and Mr.
Prashant Tripathi, Advocates versus CBI .....Respondent Through:
Mr. Premtosh K. Mishra, SPP with Mr.
Shrey Sharma and Mr.
Anubhav Upadhyay, Advocates with Inspector Narendra S.Rajawat (CBI)
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN
O R D E R
% 09.02.2026 1.
By way of this application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the applicant seeks regular bail in connection with RC No. RC-2212024E0022/2024, dated 07.12.2024, lodged at CBI, EO-III, New Delhi, for alleged offences under Sections 127/308/318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 ["BNS"], and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000 ["IT Act"]. 2.
I have heard Mr. A.K. Tripathi, learned counsel for the applicant, and Mr. Premtosh K. Mishra, learned Special Public Prosecutor for CBI. 3.
The Sessions Court dismissed the applicant's bail application by order dated 27.01.2026. Mr. Mishra submits that the CBI had filed a BAIL APPLN. 589/2026 Page 1 of 6 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
reply dated 21.01.2026 to the said application, and the same status report may be read in reply to the present bail application as well. 4.
The FIR relates to allegations of operation of a large cyber fraud network which is involved in extortion by impersonation of law enforcement officials, and intimidation of the victims using the tool of "digital arrest" through WhatsApp/Skype messaging services. Mr. Mishra explains that the concept of "digital arrest" or "digital confinement" is that the victim is compelled to remain at a particular location, while a video link with the perpetrators is active at all times. 5.
The allegations, as summarized in the aforesaid status report are that, 10 residents of Delhi were defrauded of sums amounting to approximately Rs. 4.80 crores in separate incidents. CBI is prosecuting the present case with regard to one of the victims, i.e. Mr. Anshu Mittal, who is the Managing Director of M/S Aristocraft International Pvt. Ltd., which is a security-features supplier. The allegation is that the victim was tricked by impersonating FedEx and Mumbai Cyber Crime Officials, and was threatened with serious criminal charges. He was "digitally confined" from 29.12.2023 to 01.01.2024. The victim was coerced into making two transactions aggregating to Rs. 48,56,275/-, of which Rs. 15,93,000/- was paid into account of one M/s Balaji Enterprises and Rs. 32,63,275/- was paid into the account of one M/s Sabir Enterprises. 6.
The charge sheet has been filed against thirteen individuals, of which the present applicant is accused No. 7, for offences punishable under Sections 170/419/420/343/346/388/120B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ["IPC"], and Section 66D of the IT Act, and substantive offences under Section 411/414 of IPC and the corresponding sections of BNS. BAIL APPLN. 589/2026 Page 2 of 6 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
7.
In the status report, the role attributed to the applicant is that he was "part of the financial arm of this transnational organized cybercrime fraud network". The funds obtained from the victim were routed through accounts of two individuals, i.e. Dhaval Vasudevbhai Savadia and Dipak Jesabhai Gundariya, and also a partnership firm by the name M/s. Aaditya Logestics. The amount was subsequently channelled into various fintech platforms which, according to the prosecution, was used for onward cash conversion. A flow chart showing the flow of funds has been included in the status report, and shows that, out of the amount remitted by the victim to M/s Balaji Enterprises, an amount of Rs. 4,99,000/- was routed through M/s Aditya Logestics. The allegation against the present applicant, which emerged from the examination of coaccused Dhaval Vasudevbhai Savadia, is that the co-accused used to transfer money to the account of M/s Aditya Logestics, upon prior arrangements with the applicant, and used to collect cash from the applicant.
8.
The account number of M/s Aditya Logestics [A/C no. 5950005900000010 at Punjab National Bank] was investigated. A partner of the firm, one Mr. Girish Maganbhai Solanki, had disclosed a mobile number [7069571513] for operation of the bank account, which was subsequently recovered from the possession of the present applicant. The said SIM was operating in the same mobile device [IMEI 353055097287500, i.e. Apple IPhone X] as was used for the fraudulent transactions. It is also alleged that there are WhatsApp conversations showing communications between the applicant, and co-accused Dhaval Vasudevbhai Savadia, in relation to the aforesaid account, including BAIL APPLN. 589/2026 Page 3 of 6 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
sharing of the account number, and sharing of a screenshot with regard to the transfer of funds from Dhaval Vasudevbhai Savadia with the remarks "cash".
9.
The applicant was arrested on 08.10.2025, and has been in judicial custody since 10.10.2025.
10.
Mr. Tripathi submits that the chargesheet has already been filed, and no further recovery has to be made from the applicant. He submits that the applicant has already been in custody for a period of four months. He further submits that the disclosure statement of a co-accused cannot be taken in evidence.
11.
Mr. Mishra, on the other hand, opposes the grant of bail, at this stage. He submits that the allegations against the applicant involve a complex web of fraudulent cyber transactions which cut across state, and perhaps national boundaries. Although the charge sheet has been filed, further investigation is still ongoing, and the applicant's role is established not just by disclosure statement of the co-accused, but by recovery of the mobile phone and SIM card used to transact from one of the accounts. He submits that the prosecution apprehends that the applicant would be in a position to tamper with the evidence, including digital evidence, and would also be in a position to influence the witnesses, if released on bail. Mr. Mishra submits that there are allegations of the involvement of the very same bank account of M/s Aditya Logestics, in atleast seven complaints of online frauds registered in various States, including Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Haryana and Karnataka. The details thereof are as follows: Sr. No. Ack. No.
State Police Station BAIL APPLN. 589/2026 Page 4 of 6 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
1.
22901240001307 TAMILNADU CCB-1 2.
23712230053777 TELANGANA Uppal 3.
31312230067402 HARYANA PS Cyber West 4.
31601240000043 KARNATAKA BELLARY RURAL 5.
31612230055227 KARNATAKA WHITEFIELD CEN CRIME PS 6.
31612230055281 KARNATAKA North CEN Crime PS 7.
32912230035850 TAMILNADU - 12.
Having heard learned counsel for the parties, I am of the view that it is not appropriate to release the applicant on bail in connection with the aforesaid FIR, at this stage. The allegations relate to a complex network of financial transactions, which have their genesis in alleged intimidation and coercion of the victims by the modus of "digital arrest". In the present case, the material against the applicant is not just the disclosure statement of a co-accused, but also in the form of recovery of mobile phone and SIM card, which was being operated to transact an account into which part of the funds remitted by the victim were transferred. Although it is strenuously urged by Mr. Tripathi that the applicant is not a partner of M/s Aditya Logestics, the precise constitution of the firm and beneficial ownership remain to be determined.
What is significant for the present is that the mobile number registered in connection with the bank account of the firm was being operated in a device recovered from the applicant. The alleged incriminating conversations between the applicant and co-accused Dhaval Vasudevbhai Savadia, which refer to the same bank account, and contains reference to transactions in the said bank account, also, prima facie, corroborate the applicant's involvement. 13.
Having regard to the nature of such transactions, and the BAIL APPLN. 589/2026 Page 5 of 6 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
involvement of sophisticated electronic methodology, the risk of tampering with the evidence is also significant. Although the chargesheet has been filed, I am also informed that the matter remains under further investigation in order to uncover the extent of the network, identity of all persons involved, as well as to recover other electronic/digital communications.
14.
For the aforesaid reasons, I am not inclined to release the applicant on bail at this stage in connection with RC No. RC-2212024E0022/2024, dated 07.12.2024, lodged at CBI, EO-III, New Delhi. The application is, therefore, dismissed.
15.
It is made clear that the observations in the order are made only for deciding this bail application, and does not affect the rights and contentions of the parties.
PRATEEK JALAN, J FEBRUARY 9, 2026 'sv'/AD/ BAIL APPLN. 589/2026 Page 6 of 6 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.