Vikram Singh Son Of Madan Lal Jangir v. State Of Maharashtra
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.2944 OF 2025 Vikram Singh Son Of Madan Lal Jangir ...Applicant
Versus
The State of Maharashtra
...Respondents
Ms. Vilasini Balasubramanian i/by Mr. Akshay Tapkir for the Applicant.
Mr. C.D. Mali, APP, for the Respondent-State. PSI, Mr. Ravi Shivaji Jadhav, Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station, Pune
CORAM:
MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.
DATED :
17th OCTOBER 2025 PC:- 1.
Heard Ms. Balasubramanian, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant and Mr. Mali, learned APP appearing for the Respondent-State.
2.
By this application filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 ("BNSS"), the Applicant is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with C.R. No. 545/2024 registered with Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station, Pune City, for the offences punishable under Sections 170, 419, 420 read with Section 34 of
the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 and under sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act.
3.
The statement of the First Informant reads as under : "
जबाव दिनांक23/05/2024 मीअनुट्रेसाइसाईसेल्वन, वय28 वर्ष, व्यवसायडॉक्टर( भारती हॉस्पीटल), पता- स्टाफक्वाटस, सीदिवंग, फ्लॅटक्रमांक203, ुसरा मजला, भारतीदिवयापीठ/ मेडीकलकॉलेजआदि) हॉस्पीटलं, iq )े- 411043, मो.क. 3220480801,9043302818.
मीवरीलप्रमा)ेअसुन, माझेमुळगावचापत्तापलाईरोड, वेस्ट राजीवनगर, थड स्ट्रीटukFkZ, दिजल्हा- तुतकुडी, 628008 तादिमळनाडु राज्यअसाआहे.
माझेआइवडालगाoh असतात. eh वर्ष 2021 पासुन भारतीहॉस्पीटलयेथेबालरोगतज्ञम्ह)ुनप्रॅक्टीसकरीतआहे. माझे भारती सहकारी बँकेत खाते असुन, त्याचा खाते dz मांक 005002400003033 SVCB0010005 असाआहे.
तसेचमाझेस्टेट बँकऑफइंदिडयाखातेdz मांक20170199475 SBIN0000943, असा व एच.डी.एफ.सी.
बँक खाते dz मांक 50100634235940 HDFC0001104 असाअसुननमु बैंकखात्यासमाझा8220480801 हामोबाईलdz मांकदिलंकआहे.
दिनांक23/05/2024 रोजीसकाळी08:34 वा.
च्यासुमारासभी भारतीहॉस्पीटलस्टाफक्वाटस येथेअसतानामाझे8220480801 या मोबाईलवर8005421351 यामोबाईलdz मांकk वरुनकॉलआला.
समोरुनपुरुषाच्याआवाजातबोलणा- याव्यक्तीनेतोTRAI मधुन बोलतअसल्याचेसांगुन, माझेआधारकार्ड ुसयामोबाईलdz मांdk ला दिलंकअसुन, त्याdz मांdk च्यादिवरोधात17 पोलीसतक्रारीझाल्या आहेत.
तसेचनमु मोवाईलdz मांकहाबेकायेदि/रकामाकरीता वापरण्यातयेतआहे.
त्यावेळीनमु कॉलभीदिर्डl कनेक्टकेला.
त्यानंतर सकाळी 10:11 वा.
च्या सुमारास मोबाईल dz मांक 9000628030 यावरूनमाझेमोबाईलवरकॉलआला.
नमु व्यक्तीने तोेखीलTRAI मधुनबोलतअसल्याचेसांगुनत्यानेेखीलमाझे
आधारकार्ड ुसयामोबाईलdz मांकालादिलंकअसुन, त्याdz मांकाच्या दिवरोधातपोsyh सतक्रारीझालीआहे.
नमु मोबाईलdz मांकहा बेकायेदि/रकामाकरीतावापरण्यातयेतआहेअसेसांगुन, मलासर वावतमुंबईपोलीसांकर्डेऑनलाईनतक्रारकरावीलागेल, त्याकरीता मुंबईपोलीसांनाकनेक्टकरण्यातयेईलअसेसांगुनत्यानेकॉल दिर्डसकनेक्टकेला.
त्यानंतरसकाळी11:00 वा.
च्यासुमारास7275356424 हामोबाईल असलेल्याव्हॉटसअॅ5पdz मांकावरुनदिव्हर्डीओकॉलआला. कॉल दिरसीवकेल्यानंतरसमोरुनकॉy वरबोलणा- याव्यक्तीनेमुंबईपोलीस असल्याचेसांदिगतले. तls चसमोरुनकॉलवरदिसणा- याव्यक्तीने पोलीसयुदिनफॉम घातलेलावखुदिच वरबसुनवोलतअसल्याचेदिसत होते.
त्यानंतरसमोरीलव्यक्तीनेत्यांच्याकर्डेतक्रारआलीअसुन त्यामध्येमाझेआधारकार्ड ुसयामोबाईलdz मांकासदिलंकअसुन, त्याचाबेकायेदि/रकामाकरीतावापरकरण्यातयेतआहे.
असेसांगुन, त्यानेमीकायकामकरतेअसेदिवचारलेअसता, मीडॉक्टरअसल्याचे त्यांना सांदिगतले.
त्यानंतर त्यांनी माझा आधार dz मांक त्यांना सांगण्याकरीतासांदिगतलाअसता, मीत्यांनामाझा231620026115 हाआधारdz मांकसांदिगतला.
त्यानंतरत्यानेek झेआधारचेककेले असुन, माझेआधारकार्ड क5 नराबँकेच्याखात्यालादिलंकअसुन, नरे/ गोयलनावाच्यानावावरतेबैंकखातेअसुनत्याचामनीलॉर्ड्रींग करीताउपयोगकरण्यातयेतआहे.
त्यामुळेमाझ्यानावानेअँरेस्टवॉरंट दिनघालेअसुन, मलाअटककरण्यातयेईलअसेसांदिगतले.
त्यानंतरकॉलवरसमोरुनबोल)ा- याव्यक्तीनेमाझेबँकखात्यादिवर्षयी मादिहतीदिवचारुन, बँकब5लन्सदिवचारला, त्यावेळीमाझेबँकखात्यामध्ये 17,00050/- रु.
असल्याचे त्यांना सांदिगतले.
माझे इतर बँक खात्यामध्येगनीलॉदिगबावतवबँकखात्यातीलव्यवहाराचातपशील चेककरायचाआहेत्याकरीतामाझेबैंकखात्यामधीलपैसेदिरजव बैंक ऑफइंदिडयाच्यासरकारीबँकखात्यामध्येट्रान्सफरकरावेलागतील असेसांदिगतले.
त्यादिवशीबँकहॉलीडेअसल्यामुळेमीपैसेट्रान्सफर करताये)ारनाहीतअसेसांदिगतले.
त्यानंतरत्यानेमी, आदिणमाझा मोबाईलअंर्डरसव>लन्सअसल्यामुळेiz त्येकतासालामीकोठेआहेयाचे अपर्डेटत्यांनासेल्फीकाढुनतोव्हॉटसअॅ5पवारेपाठदिवण्याकरीता सांदिगतले.
दिनांक 24/05/2024 रोजी सकाळी 09:40 वा.
च्या सुमारास 7275356-424 हयामोवाईलवरूनमलाव्हॉटसअॅ5पकॉलआला.
समोरुन बोलणा- या व्यक्तीने बँकेत जाउन 42974757889 SBIN0005977 याबँकखात्यामध्ये17,00050/-रु.आर.टी.जी.एस.
वारेट्रान्सफरकरण्याकरीतासांदिगतले.
त्यानंतरमीमाझेभारती सहकारीबँकेखातेक्रमांक005002400003033 SVCB0010005 या मधुन42974757889 SBIN0005977 याबँकखात्यावरतीनमु रक्कमट्रान्सफरकेली.
त्यानंतरत्यांनीट्रान्इक्शनचायु.टी.आर.
dz मांकत्यांनापाठदिवण्याससांदिगतलाr;kiz मा)ेमीत्यांनापाठदिवला.
त्यानंतरमाझेबँकखातीतपासुन, पडताळ)ीकरुनभाझेपैसेमाझेबँक खात्यावरती ट्रान्सफरकरण्यातयेईलअसे सांगुनत्याने कॉल दिडसकनेक्टकेला.
दिनांक 10/06/2024 रोजी ुपारी 02:56 वा च्या सुमारास 8750870832 या मोबाईल dz मांकावरुन कॉल आला. समोरुन बोल)ाराव्यक्तीनेतोइंदिरागांधीएअरपोट, दिल्लीकस्टमदिवभागातुन बोलतअसल्याचेसांगुन, माझेनावानेदिल्लीतेमलेदिशयाअसेएक पासलजातअसुन, त्यामध्येफेकपासपोट, ए.टी.एम.
काडसव एम.डी.एम.ए. (ड्रग्ज) सापडले. असुन, मलादिल्लीपोलीसांनातक्रार यावीलागेलत्याकरीतामलादिल्लीपोलीसांचाकॉलयेईल, त्यानंतर मला9372285728 यामोबाईलवरूनव्हॉटसअॅपदिव्हडीओकॉल आला.
त्यांनीमलामाझेबँकखात्यामध्येमनीलॉईंगहोतआहेअसे सांगुन, त्याचीपडताळ)ीकरायचीआहेअसेसांगुन, माझेबैंक खात्यामध्येदिकतीबॅलन्सआहे, असेदिवचारलात्यावेळी309000/-रु.
असल्याचेसांदिगतलेसरकेसहीमनीलॉड्रींगचीअसलेनेहीकेस सी.बी.आय.
कडेवग झालीअसुनत्याकरीतामलात्यांचाकॉलयेईल असेसांदिगतले, त्यानंतरथोड्यावेळानेमला9198864897 यामोबाईल dz मांकावरुनव्हॉटसअॅपकॉलआलासमोरुनबोल)ा- व्यक्तीनेतो lhch.आय.
दिल्लीयेथुनबोलतअसुन, माझेएच. र्डी. एफ.सी. बँक खात्यामध्येमनीलॉर्ड्jhax होतआहेअसेसांगुन, माझ्याबँकखात्याची पर्डताळणीकरायचीआहेत्याकरीतामाझेबँकखात्यामधीलपैसेत्यांचे खालीलबँकखात्यामध्येट्रान्सफरकरण्याकरीतासांदिगतले. तसेचबँक खात्याचीपर्डताळणीझाल्यानंतरमाझेपैसेमलापरतेण्यातयेतील. तसेचमीजरत्यांनापैसेट्रान्सफरनाहीकेलेतर, मलाअटककरण्यात
येईलअसेसांदिगतले, त्यामुळेमीअटकहोईलयाभीतीनेत्यांनापैसे V~k न्सफरकेले.
Sr.
No.
Date Victim Bank Account No. and IFSC Code No.
Fraudster Bank Account No. and IFSC Code No.
Amount 01.
11.06.2024 005002400003033 153905500430 1,90,000/- SVCB0010005 ICIC0001539 02.
11.06.2024 20170199475 201029469010 50,000/- SBIN0000943 INDB0000963 03.
12.06.2024 20170199475 350902000109006 30,000/- SBIN0000943 JSFB0003509 04.
12.06.2024 50100634235940 RUPA RAM (UPI) viki35437@okaxis 39,000/- Ref. No.
416466824966 Total .........
20,09,050 वरीलiz माणेपैसेट्रान्सफरकेल्यानंतरदिनांक14/06/2024 माड़ो सोवत झालेलाप्रकारमाझ्यादिमत्रांनासांदिगतलाअसता, त्यानेमाझे सोबतफ्रॉर्डझालाअसल्याचेसांदिगतले.
तसेचमीवरीलमोबाईल क्रमांकावरतीसंपक केलाअसता, त्यांनासंपक होउ/कलानाही त्यावेळीमाझीऑनलाइनफसवणुकझाल्याचगाझलक्षातआले.
त्यानंतरसरबाबतमीदिनांक15/06/2024 रोजीऑनलाईनतक्रार दिलीअसुन, त्याचाdz मांक31906240086864 असाआहे.
तसेचमी सायबरपोलीसस्टे/नयेथेतक्रारदिलीत्याचाक्रमांक1741/2024 असाआहे.
तरी दिनांक 23/05/2024 रोजी सकाळी 08:34 ते दिनांक 14/06/2024 रोजीचे रम्यानमोबाईलdz मांक8005421351 9000628030, 7275356424, 8750870832, 9372285728, 9198864897 योनीमतासंपक करुनते TRAI मधुन, पोलीस असल्याचे, कस्टमदिवभागीतील, सी.बी.आय.
मधुनबोलतअसल्याचे सांगुन, माझेआधारकार्ड ुसयामोबाईलdz मांकालादिलंकअसुन, त्याचातसेच, माझेआधारकार्ड दिलंकअसलेल्याक5 नराबँकखात्याचाव
माझेएच.र्डी.एफ.
सीबँकखात्याचामनीलाँर्ड्रींगकरीतावापरहोतआहे असेसांदिगतले.
तसेचमाझीबँकखात्यांचीपर्डताळणीकरायचीआहेत असेसांगुनमला42974757889 SBIN0005977 153905500430 ICIC0001539 201029469010 INDB0000963 3509020001090064 JSFB0003509 या बँक खात्यावरती व viki35437@okaxis या यु.पी.आय.
वरती 2009050/-रु. पैसे ट्रान्सफरकरण्याससांगुन, नमु पैसेमलापरतनेता, माझी ऑनलाईनफसवणुककेलीम्हणुनमाझीत्यांचेदिवरोधाततक्रारआहे. माझावरीलदिफयाीजबाबसंग)कावरमराठीमध्येटाईपकेलाअसुन तोमतामराठीमध्येवाचुनवदिहंीमध्येसमजावुनसांदिगतलाअसता, तोमाझेंसांग)ेप्रमा)ेबरोबरवखराआहे.
तपासीअदिधकारी- पोदिनगुन्हे'
दिझनेसोभारतीदिवयापीठपोदिलसस्टेशन पु)े."
(Emphasis added) English Translation of above statement is as under : "STATEMENT DATE : 23.06.2024 I, Anu Tressa Isai Selvan, age : 28 years, occupation : Doctor (Bharati Hospital), address : Flat No. 203, second floor, Staff quarters, 'C' wing, Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College and Hospital, Pune - 411043, Mobile No.8220480801, 9043302818.
I am as aforesaid and I hail from Palai road, West Rajeev Nagar, Third Street North, District Tutkudi 628008, Tamilnadu State. My Parents reside at my native place. Since the year 2021, I am practising as a Pediatrician with Bharati Hospital. I hold a Bank account with Bharati Cooperative Bank Ltd. and the Account No. thereof is 005002400003033, IFSC Code SVCB0010005. I also hold a Bank account with State Bank of India and the Account No. thereof is 20170199475, IFSC Code SBIN0000943. I hold a Bank account with H.D.F.C. Bank and its Account No. is 50100634235940, IFSC Code HDFC0001104 and my mobile number 8220480801 is linked thereto.
On the date 23.05.2024, at 08.34 a.m., while I was in my Staff quarters of Bharati Hospital, I received a phone call on my mobile phone number 8220480801 from a mobile phone number 8005421351. The person speaking in a male voice on the other side of the call told me that he was speaking from TRAI and that my Aadhaar Card was linked to another mobile number and that 17 complaints had been received against the said mobile number and that the said mobile number was being used for illegal transactions. Thereupon, I disconnected the said call. Thereafter, at around 10.11 a.m., I received a phone call on my mobile phone number from a mobile phone number 9000628030.
Even the person speaking on the phone told me that he was speaking from TRAI and that my Aadhaar Card was linked to another mobile number and that Police complaint was filed against the said mobile number and that the said mobile phone number was being used for illegal transactions. By saying this, he further told me that an On-line complaint was to be lodged with the Mumbai Police and that I will be connected to the Mumbai Police and thereafter, he disconnected the phone call.
Thereafter, at around 11.00 a.m., I received a Video call on Whats App from a mobile phone number 7275356424. After I received the Call, the person speaking on the other side of call told me that he was speaking from Mumbai Police. I also noticed that the person whom I saw on the other side of call had worn police uniform and that he was sitting on a chair and was speaking to me. Thereafter, the said person whom I was seeing in front of me on the call told me that he had received a complaint mentioning therein that my Aadhaar card was linked to another mobile number and that the same was being used for illegal transactions and by saying this, he asked me as to what work I do. Thereupon, I replied that I am practising as a doctor. Thereafter, he asked me my Aadhaar card number and I told him my Aadhaar card number as 231620026115. Thereafter, he told me that he verified my Aadhaar card and that my Aadhaar card was linked to the account with Canara Bank and that the said Bank Account was standing in the name of one person by
name Naresh Goyal and that the same was being used for Money Laundering and therefore, an arrest warrant was issued against me and that I would be arrested. Thereafter, the person who was speaking on the other side of the call asked me the details of my Bank account and asked the bank balance. Thereupon, I told him that an amount of Rs.17,00,050/- was standing at the credit in my Bank account. He further told me that he wanted to verify the details about the transactions of money laundering from my other Bank accounts and about the transactions that took place from the said Bank accounts and that therefore, the amount in my Bank accounts was required to be transferred to the Government Bank - the Reserve Bank of India. On that day, as there was a Bank holiday, I told him that the money cannot be transferred.
Thereafter, he told me that my mobile phone number and I were under surveillance and therefore, he asked me to update him about my whereabouts every hour by taking a selfie and sending it to him on WhatsApp. On the date 24.05.2024, in the morning at or about 09:40 a.m., I received a phone call on WhatsApp from Mobile No. 7275356424. The person who was speaking to me from the other end, told me that I should go to Bank and should transfer an amount of Rs.17,00,050/- to the Bank Account No. 42974757889, (IFSC Code No.) SBIN0005977, through R.T.G.S.. In pursuance thereof, I transferred the said amount to the Bank Account No. 42974757889, (IFSC Code No.) SBIN0005977, from my Bank Account No.
005002400003033, (IFSC Code No.) SVCB0010005 with Bharati Co-operative Bank. Thereafter, he asked me to send to him the U.T.R. No. in respect of the said transaction and accordingly, I forwarded the same to him. Thereafter, by telling me that my Bank Account would be checked and verified and then, my monies would be transferred to my Bank Account, he disconnected the telephone call. On the date 10.06.2024, in the afternoon, at or about 02:56 p.m., I received a telephone call from the Mobile Phone No.
8750870832. The person calling from the other end told me that he was speaking to me from the Indira Gandhi Airport, , Delhi Customs Department and further told me that one parcel on which my name was mentioned was being despatched to Malaysia from Delhi and that a fake Passport, A.T.M. Cards and M.D.M.A. (Drugs) were found in the said parcel and that I need to lodge a complaint report with the Police from Delhi and that for that purpose, I might receive a telephone call from the Police from Delhi. Thereafter, I received a video call on WhatsApp from the Mobile Phone No. 9372285728. The Caller on the Phone told me that there was a money laundering from my Bank Account and that therefore, the same was required to be verified.
Thereafter, the said Caller on the telephone asked me as to what amount was there in balance in my Bank Account, to which I told him that there was an amount of Rs.3,09,000/- balance in my Bank Account. He further told me that, as the said case was of money laundering, the same had been transferred to C.B.I. and that the C.B.I. Officials might call me. Some time thereafter, I received a WhatsApp phone call from the Mobile Phone No. 9198864897. The Caller on the other end told me that he was calling from the C. B. I. Office, Delhi and further told me that there was money laundering from my Bank Account with H.D.F.C. Bank and that the same was required to be verified and that therefore, I should transfer the money in my Bank Account to their Bank Accounts mentioned herein-below.
He further told me that my monies would be returned to me after the verification of my Bank Account and that if I fail to transfer the money to them, I would be arrested. Therefore, being scared of the arrest, I transfer the money to him.
Sr.
No.
Date Victim Bank Account No. and IFSC Code No.
Fraudster Bank Account No. and IFSC Code No.
Amount 01.
11.06.2024 005002400003033 153905500430 1,90,000/- SVCB0010005 ICIC0001539 02.
11.06.2024 20170199475 201029469010 50,000/- SBIN0000943 INDB0000963
03.
12.06.2024 20170199475 3509020001090 30,000/- SBIN0000943 JSFB0003509 04.
12.06.2024 50100634235940 RUPA RAM (UPI) 39,000/- viki35437@okax is Ref. No.
416466824966 Total .........
20,09,050 After the monies as mentioned above were transferred, on the date 14.06.2024, when I narrated the incident that had happened with me to my friends, they told me that the incidents that happened with me was a fraud. Further, when I tried to contact the said Callers on the aforesaid mobile phone numbers, no contact could be made with them. At that time, I realised that an On-line cheating was committed with me. Thereafter, on the date 15.06.2024, I registered an on-line complaint about the said incidents. The Number thereof is 31906240086864. Similarly, I also lodged a report with Cyber Police Station and the number thereof is 1741/2024.
Thus, during the period from 08:34 a.m. in the morning on the date 23.05.2024 up to the date 14.06.2024, the Callers from the Mobile Phone Numbers viz. 8005421351, 9000628030, 7275356424, 8750870832, 9372285728 and 9198864897 contacted me and by introducing themselves that they were calling from TRAI, Police Department, Customs Department, C.B.I. Department further told me that my Aadhaar Card was linked to another mobile phone number and that the said Aadhaar Card and the Canara Bank Account to which my Aadhaar Card has been linked and also my H.D.F.C. Bank Account were being used for money laundering transactions and that therefore, my Bank Accounts were required to be verified and further told me to transfer a total sum of Rs. 20,09,050/- to the Bank Accounts No. 429747577889 - IFSC Code No. SBIN0005977, Bank Account No. 153905500430 - IFSC Code No. ICIC0001539,
Bank Account No. 201029469010 - IFSC Code No. INDB0000963, Bank Account No. 3509020001090064 - IFSC Code No. JSFB0003509 and to U.P.I. viz. viki35437@okaxis and by not returning my money to me, they cheated me on-line and therefore, I lodge my Complaint report against them.
My aforesaid Complaint Statement is typewritten on Computer in Marathi. The same is read out to me in Marathi and explained to me in Hindi. The same is correct and true as stated by me.
Investigating Officer :- Police Inspector (Crime) Zine, Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station, Pune."
4.
Thus, as per the prosecution case, the First Informant received call from unknown person on 23rd May 2024 at 8.34 am. The person speaking in a male voice on the other side of the call told the First Informant that he was speaking from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India ("TRAI") and that her Aadhaar Card was linked to another mobile number and that 17 complaints had been received against the said mobile number and that the said mobile number was being used for illegal transactions. Thereafter, at around 10.11 a.m., she received another phone call allegedly by a person from TRAI and said person told the First Informant that an Online complaint was lodged with the Mumbai Police and that she would be connected to the Mumbai Police and thereafter,
disconnected the phone call. Thereafter the First Informant received Whatsapp video call at 11.00 a.m. allegedly from Mumbai Police. The person seen on Whatsapp call was in Police uniform and it was told to her that her account was being misused for money laundering and therefore she would be required to be arrested. Thereafter she was asked to transfer certain amounts and accordingly she transferred total amount of Rs.20,090,50/-. 5.
During investigation, it was found that the First Informant had transferred certain amount in the account of Pavan House Brokers as per the directions given to her by the alleged Police Personnel and said Pawan House Brokers have transferred an amount of Rs.5,00,000/- in the account of the Applicant on 24th May 2024 and immediately on same day an amount of Rs.4,95,000/- has been withdrawn by cash. Thus prima facie the Applicant is involved in the crime. The offence is very serious and custodial interrogation of the Applicant is necessary. 6.
Ms. Balasubramanian, learned Counsel for the Applicant submits that the Applicant is not involved in the crime and in fact
the Applicant is also a victim and the Applicant has also filed the complaint.
7.
Mr. Mali, learned APP strongly opposes the Anticipatory Bail Application and submits that the said complaint is filed by the Applicant after about 21⁄2 months after receipt and withdrawn of the said amount. In any case, learned APP submits that the offence is very serious and the custodial interrogation is necessary. 8.
The Supreme Court in the case of Nikita Jagannath Shetty alias Nikita Vishwajeet Jadhav Vs. State of Maharashtra1 has held that the Anticipatory Bail is an exceptional remedy and ought not to be granted in a routine manner. There must exist strong reasons for extending indulgence of this extraordinary remedy to a person accused of grave offence. It has been further held that while exercising power to grant pre-arrest bail, the Court has to be cautious as the grant of interim protection or protection to the accused in serious cases may lead to miscarriage of justice and may hamper the investigation to a great extent as it may sometimes lead to tampering or distraction of the evidence. These 1 (2025) SCC OnLine SC 1489
observations of the Supreme Court are squarely applicable to the present case.
9.
A perusal of the F.I.R. clearly shows that the offence is very serious. During investigation, it transpired that an amount of Rs.5,00,000/- has been transferred by the Applicant in the account of Pawan House Brokers and said Pawan House Brokers transferred said amount of Rs.5,00,000/- in the account of the Applicant on 24th May 2024. On the same day i.e. on 24th May 2024 an amount of Rs.4,95,000/- has been withdrawn by cash. The alleged complaint by the Applicant is dated 17th August 2024 i.e. after about 2 months and 3 weeks. Thus, prima facie said complaint is filed malafidely so that contention can be raised that the Applicant is not involved in the crime and the Applicant is also a victim. Prima facie, the Applicant is involved in very serious crime. Thus, the custodial interrogation is absolutely essential. 10.
Accordingly, no case is made out for grant of Anticipatory Bail. The Anticipatory Bail Application is dismissed. BHALCHANDRA GOPAL DUSANE BHALCHANDRA GOPAL DUSANE Date: 2025.10.18 18:50:31 +0530 (MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.])