Prashanth v. State Represented By, Inspector Of Police,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 11.06.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN WP.Crl.No.770 of 2025 Prashanth ... Petitioner Vs.

1.State represented by Inspector of Police, Cyber Crime Police Station, Villupuram District (crime No.18 of 2025) 2.National Crime Record Bureau, Represented by its Director, NH-48, Mahipalpur, New Delhi 110 037 (R2 impleaded as per the order of this court dated 23.09.2025 in WMP.Crl.No.408 of 2025 WP(Crl.) No.770 of 2025) ... Respondents Prayer:

Writ Petition(Crl.) filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying to issue a WRIT OF MANDAMUS directing the respondent police to take necessary action to defreeze the sum of Rs.19,500/- which has been kept under lien in the petitioner's savings bank account No.0125252400014801 maintained with Karnataka Bank, Metropolitan Magistrate Court Branch.

For Petitioner : Mr.V.Tamiz Vendan

For Respondents For R1 : Mr.R.Ganesh Kumar, Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side) For R2 : Mr.V.Chandrasekaran, Senior Panel Counsel

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed for direction to defreeze the petitioner's savings bank account No.0125252400014801 maintained with Karnataka Bank, Metropolitan Magistrate Court Branch. 2.

The petitioner is a practicing advocate and is holding bank account in account No.0125252400014801 in Karnataka Bank, Metropolitan Magistrate Court Branch. While being so, on account of registration of FIR in crime No.18 of 2025, the first respondent requested the petitioner's banker i.e. Karnataka Bank, Metropolitan Magistrate Court Branch to freeze the bank account of the petitioner relating to involvement in online scam and a sum of Rs.19,500/- was transferred to the petitioner's bank account.

3.

The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is being an advocate, he appeared for an accused and he

received fees from the accused. Therefore, it cannot be said that the crime proceeds was transferred to the petitioner's bank account. 4.

On instruction, the learned Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side) appearing for the first respondent submitted that on two occasions i.e. a sum of Rs.9,500/- and Rs.10,000/- was transferred to the petitioner's bank account on 29.03.2025 and 03.04.2025 respectively. Now investigation is still pending in crime No.18 of 2025 on the file of the first respondent.

5.

The learned Senior Panel Counsel appearing for the second respondent submitted that on analysis of the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal in connection with the petitioner's bank account held in the aforementioned bank, it was found that it is linked to one online financial fraud complaint reported to the second respondent. Accordingly, a sum of Rs.19,500/- has been identified as the disputed amount credited to the petitioner's bank account.

6.

In view of the above, Karnataka Bank, Metropolitan Magistrate Court Branch is directed to hold a sum of Rs.19,500/- by marking as lien and to permit the petitioner to operate the account No.0125252400014801.

7.

With the above direction, this writ petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.

11.06.2026 Index : Yes/No : Yes/No Speaking/non-speaking order lok

To 1.State represented by Inspector of Police, Cyber Crime Police Station, Villupuram District 2.National Crime Record Bureau, Represented by its Director, NH-48, Mahipalpur, New Delhi 110 037 3.Karnataka Bank, Metropolitan Magistrate Court Branch 4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras

G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.

lok WP . Crl.

No.

of 202 11.06.2026