Digital arrest scam: Bombay High Court denies bail to accused whose bank account received ₹4 crore

The Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court recently rejected the anticipatory bail plea of an accused whose bank account was credited with ₹4.03 crore in a ₹7.17 crore digital arrest cyber fraud case [Anuj Saxena v. State & Anr.]

Justice RM Joshi held that custodial interrogation of the accused is essential to investigate such cyber crimes and identify the real culprits.

The case arose from a first information report (FIR) registered in Maharashtra where a doctor was pressured into paying ₹7.17 crore under a digital arrest scam. 

Investigation revealed that ₹4.03 crore of the defrauded sum was credited directly to the account of the accused, one Anuj Saxena, and subsequently withdrawn.

Saxena claimed he ran a charitable institution and shared his bank details to receive a promised ₹20 lakh donation. He further alleged his phone was hacked. 

However, the Court found no evidence on record to support his hacking defense.

Justice Joshi highlighted the severity of digital arrest frauds as he rejected the anticipatory bail prayed by Saxena. 

“The offence in question is serious in nature. Needless to say that there is increase in the number of persons being defrauded by digital arrests,” the Court observed.

The judge warned against accepting unverified explanations from account holders.

“Any frivolous or afterthought explanation by the persons whose accounts are credited with crime money would amount to lend encouragement to commission of such crimes,” the bench stated.

The court concluded that custodial interrogation in such cases is absolutely necessary in order to investigate into the crime and find perpetrators and real culprits.

Advocate PR Dubey appeared for Saxena.

Additional public prosecutor RP Gour appeared for State.

[Read Order]