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NC: 2026:KHC:16714 CRL.P No. 4168 of 2026

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23^RD DAY OF MARCH, 2026

BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA

CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 4168 OF 2026 (482(Cr.PC) / 528(BNSS)

BETWEEN:

AXIS BANK LTD., A BANKING COMPANY.

CARRYING ON THE BANKING BUSINESS UNDER THE BANKING REGULATION ACT, 1949

INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT, 1956 AND HAVING ITS REGISTERED

OFFICE AT 'TRISHUL', 3RD FLOOR OPP SAMARTHESHWAR TEMPLE

LAW GARDEN, ELLIS BRIDGE AHMEDABAD - 380 006, GUJARAT AND HAVING ONE OF ITS BRANCH

OFFICE AT GROUND AND FIRST FLOOR VASUNDHARA BUILDING. S.F.ROAD

BESIDE ANANDALOK CINEMA, S.F.ROAD SILIGURI - 734 005.

AXIS BANK LTD Digitally signed by NANDINI M LAXMI THE MALL, BUILDING NO.5 S

LAXMI INDUSTRIAL ESTATE Location: H IGH NEW LINK ROAD, ANDHERI (WEST)

COURT OF KARNATAKA MUMBAI 400 053.

AXIS BANK LTD GROUND FLOOR, ARRJAVV SQUARE

ELLIOT ROAD, PO PARK STREET PARK STREET POLICE STATION

KOLKATA - 700 016.

AXIS BANK LTD GROUND FLOOR, HALL NO.10A GAUR GRANDEUR, SECTOR-119

NOIDA, DIST. GAUTAM BUDH NAGAR UTTAR PRADESH - 201 301.

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NC: 2026:KHC:16714 CRL.P No. 4168 of 2026

HC-KAR

REPRESENTED BY ITS BRANCH HEAD MR. GOLDIE GENNE SARETTE SAHIO AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS

C/O SANJO ESTEVEN DSOUZA ALUOH NATYARADHAM OFF MARVE ROAD NEAR INCANT JOSUS CHELPETKHARADHI

MALVID WEST MUMBAI SUBURBAN MH - 400 095.

…PETITIONERS (BY SRI UNNIKRISHNAN M, ADV.)

AND:

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY NORTH EAST CEN CRIME POLICE STATION

NORTH EAST DIVISION, BANGALORE DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY SPP

HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BANGALORE - 01.

2. MR. SHIVADURGARAJASEKAR.S S/O SELVARAJ K AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS

RESIDING AT NO.GDRW TOWER 2 FLATT NO.281602, BHUVANAHALLI DEVANAHALLI -562 110

KARNATAKA.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. B. PUSHPALATHA, LEARNED ADDL. SPP FOR R-1)

THIS CRL.P FILED U/S 482 CR.P.C (U/S 528 BNSS) PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER DTD 19.12.2025 PASSED BY THE HONBLE 45th ACJM, BANGALORE IN CR.NO.359/2025 i.e., ANNEXURE-C IN TERMS OF WHICH THE PETITIONER IS/ARE DIRECTED TO DEFREEZE THE SAVINGS/CURRENT ACCOUNT BEARING (1) A/C NO.925020023434521 (2) A/C NO.924020052666503 (3) A/C NO.924020071897890 (4) A/C NO.923020055940795 MAINTAINED IN THE PETITIONERS BANK AND TRANSFER THE SAME TO THE ACCOUNT OF THE RESPONDENT NO.2 i.e., A/C NO.50100476823235,

HDFC BANK LTD.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA

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NC: 2026:KHC:16714 CRL.P No. 4168 of 2026

HC-KAR

ORAL ORDER

Heard Sri. Unnikrishnan M., learned counsel for the

petitioner and Smt. Pushpalatha B., learned Additional State Public Prosecutor appearing for respondent No.1 and have

perused the material on record.

2. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner

submits that in all identical cases coordinate benches have allowed the petitions and remitted the matter back to the office of the learned Magistrate to permit the petitioner to file his objections with liberty to appear and then consider applications filed under Sections 451 and 457 of Code of Criminal

Procedure, 1973.

3. I deem it appropriate to quote the orders so passed

in Crl.P.No.1787/2023 dated 14.12.2023:

"ORDER The Petitioner which is a Financial Institution

is before this Court challenging the order passed by 1st Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on an application filed under Sections 451 and 457 of Cr.P.C. by the complainant/respondent No.2 directing the petitioner-Bank to defreeze the amount belonging to the accused and transfer the said amount to the bank account of the

complainants/respondent No.2.

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NC: 2026:KHC:16714 CRL.P No. 4168 of 2026

HC-KAR

2. The petitioner’s concern is that the order passed by the Jurisdictional Magistrate cannot be executed because it surpasses the specified release amount, and numerous courts across the Country have issued directives to the investigating agencies to unfreeze the bank

accounts of the accused therein.

3. Learned Special Public Prosecutor on instructions would