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WP Crl. No. 148 of 2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 28-01-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA

WP Crl. No. 148 of 2026

Raj Sarkar

..Petitioner(s)

Vs

1. Reserve Bank Of India

Rep. by its Governor,

Head Office at

16th Floor, Central Office Building,

Shahid Bhagat Singh Road,

Mumbai – 400001.

2. The Additional Director General of Police

Cyber Crime Wing,

No.3, Dr.Natesan Road, Police Training

College Campus,

3rd Floor, Cyber Crime Wing,

Ashok Nagar, Chennai - 600 083.

3. The Regional Director

Reserve Bank of India,

Fort Glacis, No.16, Rajaji Salai,

Chennai - 600 001.

4. The Superintendent of Police

Cyber Crime Division-1,

Cyber Crime Wing,

No.3, Dr.Natesafn Road, Police Training

College Campus,

3rd Floor, Cyber Crime Wing,

Ashok Nagar, Chennai - 600 083.

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WP Crl. No. 148 of 2026

5. The Superintendent of Police

Ranipet District,

Ranipet - 632 403.

6. The Deputy Superintendent of Police

Cyber Wing Ranipet District,

Ranipet - 632 403.

7. The Inspector of Police,

Cyber Wing Ranipet District,

Ranipet - 632403.

8. The General Manager, Customer Service

Department

Customer Service Department,

State Bank of India, State Bank Bhavan, 16th

Floor,

Madme Cama Road, Mumbai - 400 021.

9. The Branch Manager

State Bank of India, Rash Behari Avenue,

Kolkata - 700029.

IFSC SBIN0040229

..Respondent(s)

PRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India,

to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 7th Respondent in freezing the

petitioner’s Account vide Account No.39026541782 with IFSC Code

SBIN0040229 maintained at the 9th Respondent bank as illegal arbitrary and in

violation of law and consequently, direct the 7th Respondent to de-freeze the

said account maintained by the Petitioner with the 9th Respondent bank which

was frozen at the instance of the 7th Respondent vide Cyber Crime Division,

Tamil Nadu vide Reference No.M33703250011051 within a time frame as may

be fixed by this Court.

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WP Crl. No. 148 of 2026

For Petitioner(s): Ms.Shanmitha

For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Santhosh,

Govt. Advocate (Crl.Side) for RR2,4 to 7

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed seeking issuance of a direction to the 7^th

respondent to defreeze the petitioner’s bank account bearing No.39026541782,

IFSC Code SBIN0040229, maintained with the 9^th respondent bank, on the

ground that the freezing of the said account is illegal, arbitrary and in violation

of law.

2. The case of the petitioner is that he is the Proprietor of Maple

Residency, a hospitality establishment providing lodging and essential

amenities to travellers and is operating a business account with the 9^th

respondent bank. It is the further case of the petitioner that based on the

instructions issued by the Cyber Crime Police, Tamil Nadu, the petitioner’s

aforesaid bank account was frozen on 02.10.2025, though the petitioner is

neither an accused nor a complainant in any criminal case. The petitioner has

made representations to the respondents 5 to 7 asserting his innocence and

seeking immediate relief from the unwarranted freezing of his business account.

Since no action has been taken and the account continues to remain frozen, the

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WP Crl. No. 148 of 2026

petitioner has approached this Court by way of the present writ petition seeking

the aforesaid relief.

3. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the

respondents 2 and 4 to 7 submitted that based on a complaint lodged by one

Pandian, through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal alleging cheating,

an enquiry was initiated in C.S.R.No.807 of 2025. During the course of enquiry,

it came to light that an amount of Rs.1,200/- alone was transferred to the

account of the petitioner as a 6^th layer transaction. He further submitted that

except the said amount of Rs.1