The Delhi High Court has dismissed the bail pleas of four individuals accused of extorting over Rs 22 crore from a 78-year-old retired banker through a sophisticated 'digital arrest' scam. Justice Manoj Jain rejected the regular bail applications of Ashok Kumar and Mohit, as well as the anticipatory bail pleas of Vipul Rana and Himanshu Singh, in connection with a case registered by the Special Cell of Delhi Police under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Court's Observations on Organized Crime
The court emphasized that each participant in such offenses plays a crucial role in an organized crime with serious societal impact. Justice Jain observed that the accused appeared to be 'important cogs of the conspirational wheel' and their roles could not be trivialized at this stage of the investigation. Rejecting arguments that some were merely account holders or minor participants, the court stated, 'The wheel would not have moved without their involvement.'
Growing Menace of Digital Arrest Scams
Justice Jain flagged the rising threat of digital arrest scams, particularly targeting vulnerable senior citizens. 'Such incidents, where undue advantage is taken of the susceptible nature of senior citizens, who are coerced and duped through digital arrest, are on the rise,' the court observed. It described these offenses as organized crime with a massive societal impact, noting that digital evidence is fragile and susceptible to manipulation.
The high court held that granting pre-arrest bail could seriously hamper the investigation, and custodial interrogation of Vipul Rana and Himanshu Singh appeared 'indispensable' at this stage. The court further pointed out that the investigation is still underway and the cheated amount has not been recovered. 'Any compassion to the applicants, at this stage, may hamper the ongoing investigation,' the order said while dismissing all four applications.
Details of the Cyber Fraud
The case involves a sophisticated cyber fraud where the victim, a man in his late 70s, was subjected to a so-called digital arrest by fraudsters impersonating telecom officials, police personnel, and investigating officers. The victim was allegedly coerced into transferring Rs 22.9 crore across multiple bank accounts over about one month. Police informed the court that Rs 1.9 crore was routed through an IndusInd Bank account linked to a company where accused Mohit was a director. The amount was withdrawn on the same day, forming part of a larger conspiracy involving multiple accused and the use of 'mule accounts.'
