Muhammed Anas P v. Grievance Officer, Addl. Director General of Police, National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, Kerala Region; Inspector of Police Vizianagaram I Town Police Station; Inspector of Police Ettumanoor Police Station; Inspector of Police Girinagar Police Station; Commissioner of Police Asansol–Durgapur Police Commissionerate; IDBI Bank Ltd Kakkanad Branch

``` 2025:KER:25350 ``` W.P.(C.) No.7444 OF 2025 1 **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.S.DIAS ``` ``` TUESDAY, THE 25[TH] DAY OF MARCH 2025 / 4TH CHAITHRA, 1947 ``` ``` WP(C) NO. 7444 OF 2025 ``` ## **`PETITIONER:`** ``` MUHAMMED ANAS P AGED 26 YEARS S/O HASSAN PALEKKODAN HOUSE, AKKIYAMPADAM, MANNARKAD, PALAKKAD DISTRICT, PIN - 678591 ``` ``` BY ADVS. D.FEROZE T.S.KRISHNENDU JANET VARGHESE ADARSH A. ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** - **`1 GRIEVANCE OFFICER/ ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE`** - **`NATIONAL CYBER CRIME REPORTING PORTAL, KERALA REGION, POLICE HEADQUARTERS, VAZHUTHACAUD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001`** - **`2 INSPECTOR OF POLICE VIZIANAGARAM I TOWN POLICE STATION, HUKUMPET, VIZIANAGARAM, ANDHRA PRADESH, PIN - 535002`** - **`3 INSPECTOR OF POLICE ETTUMANOOR POLICE STATION, POLICE STATION RD, NEAR CIRCLE INSPECTOR OFFICE, ETTUMANOOR, KERALA, PIN - 686631`** ``` 2025:KER:25350 ``` W.P.(C.) No.7444 OF 2025 2 **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 4INSPECTOR OF POLICE GIRINAGARA POLICE STATION, 6TH MAIN ROAD, BSK 3RD STAGE, HOSAKEREHALLI LAYOUT, BANASHANKARI 3RD STAGE, GIRINAGAR, BENGALURU, KARNATAKA, PIN - 560085 ``` - **`5 COMMISSIONER OF POLICE ASANSOL–DURGAPUR POLICE COMMISSIONERATE COURT ROAD, NEAR ASANSOL POLICE LINE, ASANSOL, WEST BENGAL, PIN - 713301`** - **`6 IDBI BANK LTD KAKKANAD BRANCH THOMAS GALLERIA,,CIVIL LINES ROAD,VAZHAKKALA,KAKKANAD PO,ERNAKULAM ,KERALA REPRESENTED BY ITS BRANCH MANAGER, PIN - 682030`** ``` BY ADVS. Kiran M.S. REMESH KARTHA E.K.(K/2389/2022) ``` ``` GP SRI B S SYAMANTHAK ``` ``` THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ``` ``` ON 25.03.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` ``` 2025:KER:25350 ``` W.P.(C.) No.7444 OF 2025 3 **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ## **C.S.DIAS, J** **---------------------------------** **W.P.(C.) No. 7444 of 2025 -------------------------------------------------Dated this the 25[th] day of March, 2025** ## **JUDGMENT** The writ petition is filed to direct the 6[th] respondent bank to lift the freezing of the petitioner’s bank account bearing No.99980103463886. 2. The petitioner is the holder of the above bank account with the 1[st] respondent bank. The petitioner contends that the 1[st] respondent has frozen the petitioner’s bank account pursuant to the requisition received from the 2[nd] respondent. The action of the 1[st] respondent is illegal and arbitrary. Hence, this writ petition. 3. Heard; the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned counsel for the 1[st] respondent bank. ``` 2025:KER:25350 ``` W.P.(C.) No.7444 OF 2025 **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** 4 4. The learned counsel for the 1[st] respondent bank submitted that the petitioner’s bank account has been totally debit freezed for Rs.20,000/-. The said submission is recorded. 5. In considering an identical matter, this Court in **Dr.Sajeer v. Reserve Bank of India** [2024 (1) KLT 826] held as follows: “ a. The respondent Banks arrayed in these cases, are directed to confine the order of freeze against the accounts of the respective petitioners, only to the extent of the amounts mentioned in the order/requisition issued to them by the Police Authorities. This shall be done forthwith, so as to enable the petitioners to deal with their accounts, and transact therein, beyond that limit. b. The respondent – Police Authorities concerned are hereby directed to inform the respective Banks as to whether freezing of accounts of the petitioners in these Writ Petitions will require to be continued even in the afore manner; and if so, for what further time, within a period of eight months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. c. On the Banks receiving the afore information/intimation from the Police Authorities, they will adhere with it and complete necessary action – either continuing the freeze for such period as mentioned therein; or withdrawing it, as the case may be. d. If, however, no information or intimation ``` 2025:KER:25350 ``` W.P.(C.) No.7444 OF 2025 5 **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** is received by their Banks in terms of directions (b) above, the petitioners or such among them, will be at full liberty to approach this Court again; for which purpose, all their contentions in these Writ Petitions are left open and reserved to them, to impel in future.” 6. Subsequently, this Court in **Nazeer K.T v. Manager, Federal Bank Ltd** [2024 KHC OnLine 768], case after concurring with the view in **Dr.Sajeer's** (supra) and taking into consideration Section 102 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (now Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023] and the interpretation of Section 102 of the Code laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in **State of Maharashtra v. Tapas D Neogy** [(1999) 7 SCC 685], **Teesta Atul Setalvad v. State of Gujarat** [(2018) 2 SCC 372] and **Shento Varghese v. Julfikar Husen and others** [2024 SCC OnLine SC 895], has held thus: “8. The above discussion leads to the conclusion that, while delay in forthwith reporting the seizure to the Magistrate may only be an irregularity, total failure to report the seizure will ``` 2025:KER:25350 ``` W.P.(C.) No.7444 OF 2025 6 **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** definitely have a negative impact on the validity of the seizure. In such circumstances, account holders like the petitioner, most of whom are not even made accused in the crimes registered, cannot be made to wait indefinitely hoping that the police may act in tune with S.102 and report the seizure as mandated under Sub-section (3) at some point of time. In that view of the matter, the following direction is issued, in addition to the directions in **Dr.Sajeer** (supra). (i) The Police officer concerned shall inform the banks whether the seizure of the bank account has been reported to the jurisdictional Magistrate and if not, the time limit within which the seizure will be reported. If no intimation as to the compliance or the proposal to comply with the S.102 is informed to bank within one month ofreceipt of a copy of the judgment, the bank shall lift the debit freeze imposed on the petitioner's account. (ii) In order to enable the police to comply with the above direction, the bank as well as the petitioner shall forthwith serve a copy of this judgment to the officer concerned and retain proof of such service. 7. I am in complete agreement with the views in **Dr.Sajeer** and **Nazeer K.T** cases (supra). The above principles squarely apply to the facts of the case on hand. In the above conspectus, I dispose of the writ petition by passing the following directions: ``` 2025:KER:25350 ``` W.P.(C.) No.7444 OF 2025 7 **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** - (i) The 1[st] respondent Bank is directed to confine the freezing order of the petitioner's bank account only to the extent of the amount mentioned in the order/requisition issued by the Police Authorities. The above exercise shall be done forthwith, so as to enable the petitioner to transact through his account beyond the said limit; - (ii) The Police Authorities are hereby directed to inform the Bank as to whether freezing of the petitioner's account will be required to be continued even in the afore manner; and if so, for what further time; - (iii) On the Bank receiving the afore information/intimation from the Police Authorities, they will adhere with it and complete necessary action – either continuing the freeze for such period as mentioned therein; or withdrawing it, as the case may be; - (iv) If, however, no information or intimation is received by the Bank in terms of direction (ii) above, the petitioner will be at full liberty to approach this Court again; for which purpose, all his contentions in this Writ Petition are left open and reserved to him, to impel in future; - (v) The jurisdictional police officers shall inform the Bank whether the seizure of the bank account has been reported to the jurisdictional Magistrate and if not, the time limit within which the seizure will be reported. If no intimation as to the compliance or the proposal to comply with Section 102 of the Cr.P.C. is received by the Bank within two months of receipt of a copy of this judgment, the Bank shall lift the debit ``` 2025:KER:25350 ``` W.P.(C.) No.7444 OF 2025 8 **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** freeze or remove the lien, as the case may be, on the petitioner's bank account; - (vi) In order to enable the Police to comply with the above direction, the Bank, as well as the petitioner, shall forthwith serve a copy of this judgment to the jurisdictional officer and retain proof of such service. The writ petition is ordered accordingly. **Sd/-** SCB.25.03.25. **C.S.DIAS JUDGE** ``` 2025:KER:25350 ``` W.P.(C.) No.7444 OF 2025 9 **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ## **`APPENDIX OF WP(C) 7444/2025`** ## **`PETITIONER EXHIBITS`** ``` Exhibit P1 ``` ``` A TRUE COPY OF THE CRIME DETAILS DATED 15.10.2024 ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT TO THE 6TH RESPONDENT ``` ``` Exhibit P2 ``` ``` A TRUE COPY OF THE CRIME DETAILS DATED 25.10.2024 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT TO THE 6TH RESPONDENT ``` ``` Exhibit P3 ``` ``` A TRUE COPY OF THE CRIME DETAILS DATED 09.11.2024 ISSUED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT TO THE 6TH RESPONDENT ``` ``` Exhibit P4 ``` ``` A TRUE COPY OF THE CRIME DETAILS DATED 27.12.2024 ISSUED BY THE 5TH RESPONDENT TO THE 6TH RESPONDENT ``` ``` Exhibit P5 ``` ``` TRUE COPY OF THE BANK STATEMENT FROM 10.10.2024 TO 01.11.2024 OBTAINED BY THE PETITIONER FROM THE 6TH RESPONDENT ```