K.S.Anusha v. The Reserve Bank Of India

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 17-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN K.S.Anusha D/o.V.K.Sathiamurthy, F-3, Renjith Flats, No.39/74, Srinivasa Achari Street, Perambur, Chennai - 600 011.

..Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The Reserve Bank of India Rep. by its Governor, Head Office at 16th Floor, Central Office Building, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai - 400 001.

2. The Commissioner of Police, Vepery, Chennai.

3. The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crime, CCB, Vepery, Chennai.

4. The Manager Bank of Baroda, 3rd Avenue, Anna Nagar Branch, Anna Nagar, Chennai - 600 040.

5. The Manager HDFC Bank, Barnaby Road, Kilpauk Branch, Chennai.

6. The Manager Canara Bank, Perambur Branch, Perambur, Chennai - 600 011.

7. The Manager, State Bank of India, Perambur Branch, Perambur, Chennai - 600 011.

8. The Manager, Indian Overseas Bank, Perambur Branch, Chennai - 600 011.

..Respondent(s) PRAYER : Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, praying for the following reliefs:

i. To direct the 2nd Respondent to remove the instructions issued to defreeze of accounts of the Petitioner herein in respect of the 4th Respondent being Bank of Baroda, Savings Account No.751901000013 and permit the Petitioner to operate the bank account in the interest of justice.

ii. To direct the 2nd Respondent to remove the instructions issued to defreeze of accounts of the Petitioner herein in respect of the 5th Respondent HDFC Bank Account No.01241000099302 and permit the Petitioner to operate the bank account in the interest of justice. iii. To direct the 2nd Respondent to remove the instructions issued to defreeze of accounts of the Petitioner herein in respect of the and 6th Respondent Canara Bank Account No.0912101067260 and permit the Petitioner to operate the bank account in the interest of justice. iv. To direct the 2nd Respondent to remove the instructions issued to defreeze of accounts of the Petitioner herein in respect of the and 7th Respondent State Bank of India Account No.20406377105 and permit the Petitioner to operate the bank account in the interest of justice.

v. To direct the 2nd Respondent to remove the instructions issued to defreeze of accounts of the Petitioner herein in respect of the and 8th Respondent Indian Overseas Bank, Perambur Branch, Account No.016701000076877 and permit the Petitioner to operate the bank account in the interest of Justice the render Justice.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.V.K.Sathiamurthy For Respondent(s):

Mr.T.Poornam for R1 Mr.R.Ganesh Kumar Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side) for R2 & R3 Mr.R.Sreedhar for R4 & R6 Mr.C.Mohan for M/s.King & Partridge for R5 Ms.S.R.Sumathi for R7

ORDER

This writ petition has been file for a direction directing the respondents to defreeze his respective accounts in the respondents 4 to 8 bankers viz., Bank of Baroda Savings Bank Account No.75190100001355, HDFC Bank Account No.01241000099302, Canara Bank Accounts No.0912101067260, State Bank of India Account No.20406377105, Indian Overseas Bank Account No.016701000076877. Based on the instructions from various investigation agencies including National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and other investigation agencies, the bankers had frozen the accounts of the petitioner and

did not permit the petitioner to operate his accounts.

2. On instructions, the respondents 4 and 6 submits that the disputed amount is only Rs.50,000/- and as such, on the request made by the investigation agency they had debit frozen the account. However, the disputed amount is only Rs.50,000/-. In view of the above, the respondents 4 and 6 are directed to permit the petitioner to operate his accounts by imposing conditions if any, by withholding a sum of Rs.50,000/- as disputed amount.

3. The learned counsel for the fifth respondent submits that they received instructions from various investigation agencies and the disputed amount is to the tune of Rs.13,95,178/- in which the petitioner is having balance only to the tune of Rs.2,11,104/-. Therefore, the petitioner is not permitted to operate his account lying with the fifth respondent herein.

4. The learned counsel for the seventh respondent submits that there is no instruction to freeze the petitioner's account and the petitioner is now operating his account. Recording the said submission, the petitioner is permitted to operate his account with the seventh respondent bank.

5. In so far the eighth respondent bank is concerned, the learned Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Crl.Side) submits that the third respondent has

already instructed the eighth respondent to defreeze the petitioner's account and permitted the petitioner to operate his account. Therefore, the petitioner can very well operate his account lying with the account of the eighth respondent bank.

6. With the above directions, this Writ Petition (Criminal) stands disposed of. No costs.

17-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order MTL

To

1. The Reserve Bank of India Rep. by its Governor, Head Office at 16th Floor, Central Office Building, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai - 400 001.

2. The Commissioner of Police, Vepery, Chennai.

3. The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crime, CCB, Vepery, Chennai.

4. The Manager Bank of Baroda, 3rd Avenue, Anna Nagar Branch, Anna Nagar, Chennai - 600 040.

5. The Manager Canara Bank, Perambur Branch, Perambur, Chennai - 600 011.

6. The Manager, State Bank of India, Perambur Branch, Perambur, Chennai - 600 011.

7. The Manager, Indian Overseas Bank, Perambur Branch, Chennai - 600 011.

8. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.

MTL 17-06-2026 s