Bail Granted to Pinky Tamang in International Call-Centre Fraud Case
In a significant development, an ad hoc additional sessions court in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar granted bail to Pinky Tamang on Thursday. Tamang is one of the 116 individuals arrested during a police raid on October 28, 2025, which uncovered an alleged international call-centre fraud operation. This decision marks her as the third accused to secure bail in this high-profile case.
Court Proceedings and Legal Arguments
Ad hoc additional sessions judge-1 Mahesh Tiwari approved Tamang's bail application, making her the third woman to receive relief. Previously, the court had granted bail to co-accused Ranjana Sinha and Kriti Gupta on February 2. Sinha was released on medical grounds due to her advanced pregnancy, highlighting the court's consideration of humanitarian aspects in such cases.
The First Information Report (FIR) in this case invokes multiple legal provisions, including Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 340, 351, and 62 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Additionally, it includes Sections 66(c) and 66(d) of the Information Technology Act, along with Sections 20 and 25 of the Telegraph Act, underscoring the serious nature of the alleged cybercrimes.
Background of the Fraud Operation
According to police reports, the accused were involved in an illegal call-centre operation that specifically targeted American citizens. During the raid, authorities seized a substantial amount of evidence, including laptops, cellphones, and various documents. Investigators have also sought assistance from foreign agencies to trace the international connections of this syndicate. Notably, two key suspects, identified only by their aliases 'John' and 'Paaji', remain absconding, adding complexity to the ongoing investigation.
Defense and Prosecution Arguments
During the bail hearing, Tamang's counsel, advocate Prashant Nagargoje, argued that the accused were merely salaried employees with no independent evidence linking them to impersonation or cheating of foreign nationals. He emphasized that no formal complaints had been filed by any foreign victims and that the chargesheet failed to establish intentional involvement on Tamang's part.
In opposition, the prosecution contended that the accused were integral members of a syndicate defrauding foreign nationals. They pointed to the electronic devices and documents seized as strong evidence supporting their claims of organized criminal activity.
Court's Observations and Bail Conditions
After reviewing the case material, the court noted that the offences are triable by a Judicial Magistrate First Class and carry a maximum sentence of seven years or less. The court observed that the chargesheet had been filed and that Tamang had been in custody since October of the previous year. Based on these factors, the court decided to grant bail.
As part of the bail conditions, Tamang has been directed to furnish a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with surety. She must also adhere to strict conditions, including not tampering with evidence and not leaving the country without prior court permission. This ruling reflects the court's balance between ensuring justice and upholding the rights of the accused during legal proceedings.
