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NC: 2026:KHC:17369 WP No. 8674 of 2026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 26^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026

BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM

WRIT PETITION NO. 8674 OF 2026 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

MR YASH RANA S/O GANGA SINGH

AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS, R/AT NARSENA, BULANDSHAHR,

UTTAR PRADESH-202398.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAMESH YANKOB., ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, BENGALURU CITY, ALI ASKER ROAD,

VASANTH NAGAR, BENGALURU, KARNATAKA-560051. REPRESENTED BY SPP

Digitally signed HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA by CHAITHRA A Location: H IGH COURT OF

2. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA KARNATAKA POLICE INSPECTOR,

JAYANAGARA, BENGALURU-560001. REPRESENTED BY SPP

HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

3. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY,

THE SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS

AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,

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NC: 2026:KHC:17369 WP No. 8674 of 2026

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VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560 001.

4. HDFC BANK REPRESENTED BY,

THE BRANCH MANAGER HDFC BANK, JAHANGIRABAD,

UTTAR PRADESH-202394.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. ADITYA DIWAKARA, AGA

VIDE COURT ORDER DATED 26.03.2026 NOTICE TO R4 DISPENSED WITH)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO. 5 TO DEFREEZE THE ACCOUNTS OF THE PETITIONER AND PERMIT THE PETITIONER HEREIN TO USE AND OPERATE THE BANK ACCOUNT OF PETITIONER A/C 50100526309922, IFSC-HDFC0002648 MAINTAINED IN HDFC BANK JAHANGIRABAD, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA-202394 AND

ETC.

THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM

ORAL ORDER

The captioned writ petition is filed seeking issuance

of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing respondent No.4–Bank to defreeze the petitioner’s bank account bearing No.50100526309922, IFSC: HDFC0002648, maintained with HDFC Bank, Jahangirabad Branch, Uttar

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NC: 2026:KHC:17369 WP No. 8674 of 2026

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Pradesh – 202394, and consequently permit the petitioner

to operate the said account.

2. The petitioner contends that he is maintaining

the aforesaid savings bank account with respondent No.4– Bank and that the said account is his salary account, which is actively used for his day-to-day financial transactions. It is his specific case that the funds lying in the said account constitute his primary source of livelihood. It is further averred that, to his utter shock and surprise, he found that the said bank account had been frozen. Upon enquiry, the petitioner was orally informed by the officials of respondent No.4–Bank that the freezing of the account was pursuant to a communication received from respondent No.2–Police in connection with an alleged

offence under the Information Technology Act, 2000. 3. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the

petitioner. Perused the material on record, including the statement of account. It is not in dispute that respondent

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NC: 2026:KHC:17369 WP No. 8674 of 2026

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No.4–Bank, acting upon the communication received from the Investigating Agency, has proceeded to freeze the

entire bank account of the petitioner.

4. On consideration of the material placed on

record, this Court is of the prima facie view that though respondent No.4–Bank was justified in taking note of the communication issued by the Investigating Agency and initiating appropriate action, the measure adopted in freezing the entire bank account of the petitioner appears to be excessive, disproportionate and arbitrary. This Court cannot lose sight of the fact that freezing the entire bank account, particularly of a salaried individual, would result

in serious hardship affecting his day-to-day sustenance.

5. If the alleged crime proceeds are identifiable

and confined to a specific amount, the action of freezing the entire account, without restricting the lien to such amount, would not satisfy the test of proportionality. Therefore, a balanced approach is required so as to

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NC: 2026:KHC:173

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