Pre-arrest bail cannot be granted as a matter of course; it is denied based on serious accusations and investigation status.

ORDER

This application is filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita , 2023 (for short, BNSS ), seeking pre-arrest bail.

2. The applicant is the accused in Crime No.73/2025 of Cyber Crime Police Station, Thrissur District. The offences alleged are punishable under Section 319 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita , 2023 and Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act , 2000.

3. The prosecution case, in short, is that the applicant has created a fake website under the pretext of facilitating bookings for a rest house near the Guruvayur Temple, Thrissur, and upon clicking the said link, the users were redirected to a WhatsApp number +91 9109879017 through which the victims were subjected to online scam and thereby committed the offences.

4. I have heard Sri. Sarath Babu Kottakkal, the learned counsel for the applicant and Sri. M.C. Ashi, the learned Senior Public Prosecutor. Perused the case diary.

5. The learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. The counsel further submitted that no materials are on record to connect the applicant with the alleged crime; hence, he is entitled to bail. The learned Public Prosecutor, on the other hand, submitted that the alleged incident occurred as part of the applicant's intentional criminal acts, and if he is released on bail at this stage, it will affect the course of the investigation.

6. The law regarding the grant or refusal of pre-

arrest bail is well settled. Pre-arrest bail cannot be granted as a matter of course. The power under Section 482 of BNSS could be exercised only when a special case is made out, that too, recording reasons thereof. Perusal of the case diary reveals that the accusation made against the applicant is very serious in nature, and it prima facie shows a premeditated criminal act on his part. The investigation reveals the involvement of the applicant in the crime. Repeatedly amounts have been credited to the account of the applicant towards the fake booking of rest house.

The investigation is in a preliminary stage. The custodial interrogation of the applicant is necessary for the investigation. As rightly argued by the learned Public Prosecutor, the possibility of the applicant influencing the witnesses and interfering with the investigation cannot be ruled out if he is released on bail. Considering the gravity of the offence and stage of the investigation, I am of the view that this is not a fit case where the extraordinary jurisdiction vested with this Court under Section 482 of BNSS could be invoked. The bail application is, accordingly, dismissed.

Sd/-