$~94 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 881/2026 & CM APPL. 4299/2026 RAJ KUMAR .....Petitioner Through: Ms. Shriya Maini, Mr. Rajive Maini , Mr. Neeshu Chandpuriya, Advs.

versus RESERVE BANK OF INDIA & ORS.

.....Respondent Through: Mr. Dhaval Mehrotra, Ms. Aditi Desai, Advs. for RBI CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASMEET SINGH

O R D E R

% 21.01.2026 CM APPL. 4300/2026, CM APPL. 4301/2026 Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

The application is disposed of.

W.P.(C) 881/2026

1. This is a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following reliefs:

a)“a) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, Order or directions quashing the rejection order dated 29.12.2025 (Annexure P-6) passed by both the Principal Nodal officer (PNO) Axis Bank, and the Reserve Bank of India's Centralised Receipt and Processing Centre (CRPC) as violative of Articles 14, 16 and 21 r/w Art. 300A of the Constitution of India and RBI Master Circular dated 06.07.2017; and/or b)Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ (certiorari), Order or directions quashing / setting aside the Order dated 08.01.2026 (Annexure P-8) and 12.01.2026 (Annexure P-9) passed by the RBI Banking Ombudsman, alongside directing the Respondent Nos. 2 — 5 (Axis Bank) to restore the amount illegally siphoned off from the Petitioner’s Credit Card No. bearing No. 5334 6700 4305 4705 on dated 02.11.2025 by unknown

3™ parties amounting to Rs. With interest; and/or…”

2. It is stated by Ms. Maini, learned counsel for the petitioner, that the petitioner is a victim of cyber fraud, having suffered an unauthorized debit of Rs. 54,998/-, despite immediately blocking his credit card and expressly instructing Axis Bank to stop all transactions. Notwithstanding such intimation and assurance by the Bank’s customer care executive that no payment would be released, the Bank negligently authorized and released the said amount to a suspicious account on 02.11.2025. This action is in clear violation of the RBI Master Directions on Zero Customer Liability and amounts to gross deficiency in service.

3. Reliance has been placed on Hare Ram Singh v. RBI & Ors., W.P.(C) No. 13497/2022, wherein the Hon’ble Delhi High Court held that losses arising out of cyber fraud fall within the ambit of Zero Customer Liability, even where the bank alleges OTP sharing. Further it is stated that the impugned order dated 08.01.2026 was passed without taking into account the version of the petitioner.

4. For the reasons stated above, issue notice.

5. Ms. Desai, learned counsel accepts notice on behalf of respondent No.

1.

6. Let notice be issued to respondent Nos. 2, 3, and 4 through all modes, including electronic, on the petitioner taking steps, within one week from today, returnable on 28.04.2026.

CM APPL. 4299/2026

7. This is an application filed under Section 151 of CPC, 1908 seeking ad-interim ex-parte temporary injunction against respondent Nos. 2 to

4.

8. Since the petitioner has stated that the petitioner has never shared the OTP and despite the same, the card of the petitioner was used for the said amount of Rs. 54,998/-. The petitioner has made a prima facie case, balance of convenience lies in favour of the petitioner and irreparable injury would occur if interim relief is not granted at this stage. It is directed that till the next date of hearing, respondent Nos. 2 to 4 shall not recover the disputed amount of Rs. Rs. 54,998/- from the petitioner in an unauthorized manner.

9. List on 28.04.2026.

JASMEET SINGH, J JANUARY 21, 2026/sp