ORDER

Petitioner has filed this petition seeking anticipatory bail in Cr.No.3460 of 2024 of P.S. Cyber Crimes, Cyberabad, registered for the offences under Sections 66 r/w. 43 ITA-2000-2008.

2. Heard Sri Ponampelli Ravi, learned counsel for petitioner and Sri M.Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent-State and perused the record.

3. The case of the prosecution in brief is that Arete-IR LLP, an LLP registered in India, provides technology services related to cyber security, serving multiple international clients.

Recently, one of their clients received an email containing a Google Drive link to a folder with over 600 spreadsheets. These spreadsheets contain highly sensitive and personally identifiable information of millions of individuals, including names, addresses, emails, dates of birth and social security numbers.

JS, J Crl.P.No.8102 of 2024 Arete had received this data as a part of multiple client engagements. The petitioner has been sending similar emails to multiple stakeholders, including clients and partners. The email used for sending these emails containing the Google Drive link is akhilpilli108@gmail.com. Arete is currently gathering further details about the perpetrator, including the IP address or any other identifiable details. They have also cautioned their existing employees and are assessing potential involvement in the crime.

The theft and disclosure of this data have significantly impacted Arete’s business operations and client relations, exposing them to contractual liabilities with clients. They have suffered financial losses as impacted clients may initiate legal action against them, affecting their goodwill and reputation and limiting future business opportunities. The perpetrator continues to send emails to clients and other stakeholders. Arete suspects that the data may have been disclosed by one of their four employees, who are two former and two current employees. The former employees left on unfavourable terms due to termination for non-

performance. Arete has contacted these employees, but they JS, J Crl.P.No.8102 of 2024 have denied any involvement. According to complainant, company data was committed theft and disclosure and suspecting one of their four employees i.e., two former employees and two current employees. Basing on the said complaint, the Police registered the above crime and took up investigation.

4. Learned counsel for petitioner has submitted that petitioner is innocent and the Police have implicated the petitioner in the above crime as under calling of witness with Notice under Section 91/160 of Cr.P.C. He further contended that though the petitioner is in no way concerned with the alleged offence, only as the petitioner is an ex-employee and with an intention to harass him, he was implicated in the case with all false allegations. He further submits that the petitioner is apprehending arrest in the hands of Police, and hence, prayed to allow the petition.

5. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the application stating that the petitioner has not arrayed as accused in this case. He further submits that in the cause title of this JS, J Crl.P.No.8102 of 2024 petition itself, it is shown that the petitioner is shown as witness, as such, it is not a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail.

6. Having heard both sides and perused the material on record, since the petitioner was not arrayed as accused and as per the cause title of this criminal petition itself, the petitioner is shown as a witness. In the said circumstances, this Court is of the considered view that it is not a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner at this stage.

7. In view of the above, this criminal petition is dismissed, granting liberty to the petitioner to approach the Court in case if he is arrayed as accused in the a