$~11 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision: 11.07.2025 + BAIL APPLN. 4334/2023 PAUL ONYEJI ATUH .....Petitioner Through: Ms. Sushma Sharma, Mr.

Girish K. Sharma, Mr. Dhruv K. Sharma, Ms. Stuti Aggarwal, Ms. Ayushi Gaur & Mr.

R.Sahil, Advocates Versus THE STATE NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent Through: Ms. Meenakshi Dahiya, Additional Public Prosecutor for State with Inspector N.P.

Singh & SI Naveen.

Complainant-in-person.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE SHALINDER KAUR SHALINDER KAUR, J (ORAL)

1. The present petition has been filed under Section 439 read with Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (C.r.Pc) seeking the grant of Regular Bail in FIR No. 07/2022 dated 31.03.2022 for the offences punishable under Sections 420, 419, 170, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) registered at Police Station Cyber Central District, New Delhi.

PROSECUTION’S CASE

2. The genesis of the case lies in a complaint lodged by Ms. Manpreet Kaur, who alleged that she was cheated of Rs. 55,900/- by Signature Not Verified BAIL APPLN. 4334/2023 Page 1 of 10 Digitally Signed an individual she came into contact with through the matrimonial website Sangam.com. The individual introduced himself as "Dr. Ankit Verma", a resident of Canada, and communicated with the complainant on WhatsApp. On 22.12.2021, the complainant received a message that "Ankit Verma" had arrived at IGI Airport from Canada and had been detained by Customs officials for carrying excessive foreign currency. A subsequent phone call from mobile number 9642628874 was made impersonating a Customs official, who claimed that a penalty of Rs. 55,900/- had to be paid. Believing the misrepresentation, the complainant transferred the amount in two instalments on the same day.

3. Following a demand for an additional Rs. 1,50,000/- purportedly for clearance from the Ministry of Finance, the complainant suspected foul play and lodged a formal complaint. The investigation revealed that the amount of Rs. 55,900/- was deposited in the bank account of one Debrup Pal (SBI Account No. 40431948898) which was opened on 10.09.2021. In the said account, deposits amounting to Rs. 35,81,184/-, had been made by various people from various different places and the amounts deposited were withdrawn almost immediately through an ATM on different dates, or transferred to some other accounts through electronic modes. As per the bank statement, an amount of Rs. 29,035/- was frozen by the bank. 4. On 22.12.2021, three debit transactions were made from this account, two of which were to Indian Bank Account No. 7086608474 Signature Not Verified BAIL APPLN. 4334/2023 Page 2 of 10 Digitally Signed (in the name of Jayashree Choudhary), and one to Bank of Baroda Account No. 30850100009959 (in the name of Neha Pal).

5. The investigation further disclosed that the Indian Bank account received Rs. 21,65,025/- between 01.12.2021 and 04.04.2022, while the Bank of Baroda account received Rs. 54,45,858/- during the relevant period, out of which Rs. 2,82,377/- were frozen. All three accounts showed a pattern of immediate cash withdrawals or electronic transfers. From Sangam.com, it was ascertained that the profile of "Ankit Verma" was created on 06.12.2021 and deactivated on 21.12.2021 following a complaint. The registered email ID and mobile number were av4057265@gmail.com and 9553265724, with the IP address showing a Canadian origin.

6. The CDR and CAF of mobile number 9642628874 revealed it was issued in the name of Matta Veera from Andhra Pradesh and located in Sector Delta-2, Greater Noida post 09.12.2021. CCTV footage from ATMs confirmed that an African national was withdrawing cash.

7. On 19.05.2022, accused Paul Onyeji Atuh (petitioner) was arrested from House No. 300, Second Floor, Delta-2, Greater Noida. He disclosed that he entered India on a Student Visa on 23.01.2020 and resided with Okey Chukwu, who taught him to create fake matrimonial profiles and dupe people. The petitioner admitted involvement in