Bail may be denied in organized cybercrime cases involving financial fraud and impersonation when the accused is a habitual offender with multiple similar cases registered across various states and the investigation is ongoing.

: ORDER :

This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 480 & 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 praying this Court to enlarge the petitioner on bail who is arrayed as accused No.2 in Crime No.2216 of 2025 of Cyber Crime Police Station, Hyderabad. The offences alleged against the petitioner are under Sections 66C , 66D of Information Technology Act, under Sections 111(2)(b), 308(2), 318(4), 319(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNS’).

2. The facts of the case are that the defacto complainant lodged a complaint before police stating that on 04.12.2025 at about 10:00 hours he received WhatsApp call from unknown person mobile number 9809450309 and 9834849575, who informed him that he was allegedly involved in a human trafficking case relating to one Sadakat Khan, a native of Uttar Pradesh, who was arrested at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, on 02.11.2024, and in connection with an overseas job fraud and money laundering case registered at Siricilla Police Station on 16.05.2024. The callers further claimed that during police interrogation the said accused had disclosed the name the complainant Reddy as being involved, and to create fear they sent a forged notice on the letterhead of the Supreme Court of India through WhatsApp, purportedly signed by Mr. Barun Mitra, Secretary to the Government of India. Thereafter, the fraudsters threatened the complainant with arrest and coerced him to transfer the money available in his bank account to avoid legal action. Being an 81-year-old senior citizen, he became frightened due to the continuous threats and, under coercion, transferred a total amount of Rs.59,00,300/- through RTGS from his Union Bank of India account, Saidabad Branch, Hyderabad, to the accounts provided by the fraudsters. It was alleged that the acts were committed by an organized group of fraudsters by impersonating government and police officials using multiple bank accounts, thereby cheated and extorted a huge amount from the complainant. Based on the said complaint, case was registered against the accused persons for the above offences.

3. Heard Sri N.Venkataiah, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and Sri M.Ramachandra Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent - State.

4. The contention of learned counsel for the petitioner is that the petitioner is innocent of the said allegations and he is falsely implicated in this case to harass him. The petitioner is no way connected with this offence and that there is no evidence to show that the petitioner has committed the offence. This complaint is given by the complainant only to blackmail the petitioner and extract money from him. Investigation is almost complete, as such, custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not required. Petitioner is in jail from 18.12.2025, hence prayed this Court to enlarge the petitioner on bail by allowing this criminal petition.

5. On the other hand, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor on instructions would submit that the petitioner herein along with other accused actively participated in this crime. Petitioner herein facilitated for opening fake firm accounts through A.3 to A.6 which were handed over to A.1 for operation of fraudulent transactions. The petitioner herein is involved in four similar crimes in Telangana State and total 65 cases are registered against him in different States. Further, custody petition is also filed for further investigation, that more victims are to be identified and amount has