The Hon’ble Sri Justice J.Sreenivas Rao Criminal Petition No.4790 of 2025

ORDER

:

This Criminal Petition is filed by the petitioner/accused, seeking anticipatory bail under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), in connection with Crime No.328 of 2025 of Cyber Crimes Police Station, Hyderabad, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 66-C, 66-D, Information Technology Agreement (for short ‘ITA’) 2000- 2008, 111(2)(b), 318(4), 319(2), 336(6), 340(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNS’).

2. Heard Sri Sabavat Krishna, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Syed Yasar Mamoon, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent/State.

3. The case of the prosecution is that on 08.02.2025, the complainant reported a financial fraud involving stock trading/job scam. He was added to a WhatsApp group claiming to be associated with SMC Company, where a woman named Keerthi Gupta posed herself as an Assistant and encouraged him to invest on the promise of high returns. Initially, the complainant invested Rs.1,00,000/-. Thereafter, he was persuaded to invest a total of Rs.88,44,000/-. The fraudsters impersonated a reputed Company and used multiple bank accounts to collect the money. The complainant was ultimately cheated of the entire amount.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is no way concerned with the alleged crime and there are no specific allegations leveled against the petitioner. As on today, the petitioner was not made as accused in the present crime, however, the Police freezed the bank account of the petitioner and also harassed the petitioner in one way or other. The petitioner is ready and willing to co-operate with the investigation and also abide by the conditions that may be imposed by the Court. Hence, prayed to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

5. Per contra, learned Additional Public Prosecutor submits that the Police registered the crime on 08.02.2025 and the huge amounts were misappropriated by the petitioner and another accused. The investigation is under progress and even according to the complaint lodged by the de facto complainant, the petitioner received huge amount in his bank accounts. At this stage, if the petitioner is granted bail, he will interfere with the investigation and influence the witnesses. Hence, prayed to dismiss the petition.

6. Having considered the rival submissions made by the respective parties and on perusal of the record, it reveals that the petitioner received huge amount of Rs.19,20,000/- on 18.12.2025 to his bank account. According to the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, investigation is under progress.

7. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case as well as the gravity of the offence, this Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioners.

8. Accordingly, this Criminal Petition is dismissed.

As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, pending if any, stand closed.

___________________ J.SREENIVAS RAO, J

Date: 11.04.2025

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