Kerala High Court
Sabeena vs Federal Bank on 16 January, 2025
Author: C.S.Dias
Bench: C.S.Dias
2025:KER:3441
WP(C) NO. 39611 OF 2024
1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.S.DIAS
THURSDAY, THE 16TH DAY OF JANUARY 2025 / 26TH POUSHA, 1946
WP(C) NO. 39611 OF 2024
PETITIONER:
SABEENA
AGED 41 YEARS
D/O SHAHUDEEN,KAREPARAMBIL, NJARAKKAL ERNAKULAM,
KERALA,, PIN - 682505
BY ADVS.
SADIQALI.M
VISHAL L.
RESPONDENTS:
1 FEDERAL BANK
REPRESENTED BY ITSBRANCH MANAGER , EDAVANAKAD
BRANCH, FEDERAL BANK, ILLATHUPADI, EDAVANAKAD,
ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, KERALA ., PIN - 682502
2 POLICE INSPECTOR
CYBER CRIME CELL,OFFICE OF THE SUPERINDENDENT OF
POLICE,BHAVNAGAR,NAVAPARA,DISTRICT-
BHAVNAGAR,GUJARAT-INDIA., PIN - 364001
SC SRI MOHAN JACOB GEORGE
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION
ON 16.01.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE
FOLLOWING:
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WP(C) NO. 39611 OF 2024
2
JUDGMENT
Dated this the 16th day of January, 2025
The writ petition is filed to direct the 1 st
respondent bank to lift the freezing of the petitioner's
bank account bearing No.10070100177865.
2. The petitioner's case is that, she is the
holder of the above bank account with the 1st
respondent bank. To the petitioner's surprise, the 1 st
respondent has frozen the petitioner's bank account
pursuant to a requisition received from the 2 nd
respondent. The action of the 1st respondent is illegal
and arbitrary. Hence, this writ petition.
3.Heard; the learned counsel appearing for the
petitioner and the learned counsel appearing for the 1 st
respondent.
4. The learned counsel appearing for the first
respondent submitted that the disputed amount is
Rs.78,000/-. The said submission is recorded.
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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 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."
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6. Subsequently, this Court in Nazeer K.T v.
Manager, Federal Bank Ltd [2024 KHC OnLine 768],
after concurring with the view in Dr.Sajeer's case
(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 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
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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 applies to the facts of the case on
hand.
In the above conspectus, I dispose of the writ
petition by passing the following directions:
(i). The 1st 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
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WP(C) NO. 39611 OF 2024
shall be done forthwith, so as to enable the
petitioner to transact through her 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 directions
(ii) above, the petitioner will be at full liberty
to approach this Court again; for which
purpose, all her contentions in this Writ
Petition are left open and reserved to her, to
impel in future;
(v) The jurisdictional police officers shall
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WP(C) NO. 39611 OF 2024
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 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/-
C.S.DIAS, JUDGE
rmm16/1/2025
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WP(C) NO. 39611 OF 2024
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 39611/2024
PETITIONER EXHIBITS
Exhibit P1 A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER SEND BY THE
PETITIONER TO 1ST RESPONDENT DATED
16/08/2024
Exhibit P2 A TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE SENT BY THE
1ST RESPONDENT TO THE PETITIONER DATED
29/07/2024
