Arti Meenakshi Muthiah v. The Commissioner Of Police

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 02.12.2025 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE N. SATHISH KUMAR Arti Meenakshi Muthiah ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Commissioner of Police, Central Crime Branch, Chennai.

2.The Branch Manager, Punjab National Bank, Purusaiwalkam Branch, Chennai.

3.The Branch Manager, IDFC Bank, Plot No.79, Residency Building, Residency Road, Richmond Town Branch, Bengaluru - 560 025.

... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus to direct the 3rd respondent to defreeze a sum of Rs.4,50,000/- (Rupees Four Lakhs and Fifty Thousand only) and revert back to the petitioner A/c.No.2511000103010260 maintained in the 2nd respondent Bank pursuant to the representation dated 18.08.2023.

For Petitioner :

Ms.G.Saranya For R1 :

Mr.L.Baskaran Government Advocate (Crl. Side) For R2 :

Mr.J.Arun Prasad For R3 :

No appearance

O R D E R

This writ petition has been filed to direct the 3rd respondent to de-freeze a sum of Rs.4,50,000/- (Rupees Four Lakhs and Fifty Thousand only) and revert back to the petitioner A/c.No.2511000103010260 maintained in the 2nd respondent Bank pursuant to the representation dated 18.08.2023.

2.It is the case of the petitioner that her e-mail was hacked by third parties and a request has been made to the Finance Manager of the petitioner as if it was sent by the petitioner to make payment of Rs.4,50,000/- in favour of one third party namely Dularam Reang to his Bank Account maintained in the 3rd respondent Bank and based on the same, the Finance Manager of the petitioner has also made that payment from the 2nd respondent Bank Account maintained by the petitioner to the 3rd respondent

Bank Account of the third parties. On realising that her e-mail has been hacked, the petitioner lodged a complaint before the 1st respondent Police immediately and an FIR in Crime No.109 of 2020 came to be registered for the offences under Sections 120-B, 420 IPC and Sections 66, 66C and 66D of the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008. Immediately, the 1st respondent Police have sent a notice to the 3rd respondent Bank, based on which, the 3rd respondent Bank has frozen the amount of Rs.4,50,000/- transferred from the petitioner's Bank Account. Now, the petitioner seeks to de-freeze the said amount and revert it back to the petitioner's Account in the 2nd respondent Bank.

3.A counter affidavit has been filed by the 1st respondent admitting that the petitioner is innocent and her e-mail has been hacked by third parties, pursuant to which, a sum of Rs.4,50,000/- has been transferred from the 2nd respondent Bank to the 3rd respondent Bank. It is also stated that the petitioner is at liberty to file a petition for return of property before the jurisdictional Magistrate and collect the cheated amount with the Court's permission.

4.As the 1st respondent Police have no objection for return of amount and the fact remains that the entire amount is now lying frozen in the 3rd respondent Bank, the 3rd respondent Bank is directed to de-freeze the said amount of Rs.4,50,000/- (Rupees Four Lakhs and Fifty Thousand only) and revert back to the petitioner's account maintained in the 2nd respondent Bank, namely Punjab National Bank, within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

5.With this direction, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs. 02.12.2025 mkn Internet : Yes Index : Yes / No Speaking order : Yes / No To 1.The Commissioner of Police, Central Crime Branch, Chennai.

2.The Branch Manager, Punjab National Bank, Purusaiwalkam Branch, Chennai.

3.The Branch Manager, IDFC Bank, Plot No.79, Residency Building, Residency Road, Richmond Town Branch, Bengaluru - 560 025.

N. SATHISH KUMAR, J.

mkn 02.12.2025