Kerala High Court
Muhammed Shafeeque P.T vs The Grievance Officer on 17 January, 2025
Author: C.S.Dias
Bench: C.S.Dias
WP(C) NO. 42921 OF 2024
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.S.DIAS
FRIDAY, THE 17TH DAY OF JANUARY 2025 / 27TH POUSHA, 1946
WP(C) NO. 42921 OF 2024
PETITIONER/S:
MUHAMMED SHAFEEQUE P.T.
AGED 20 YEARS
C/O ABDUL HAMEED, RESIDING AT PILATHOTTATHIL
HOUSE, CHATHAMANGALAM, MALAYAMMA P.O., KOZHIKODE,
KERALA,, PIN - 673601
BY ADVS.
HAMZATH ALI V.K.
AYISHA AFRIN A.V.K.
MUHAMMAD SHAMEEL K.
MUHAMMAD SABITH
ABDULLA FUHAD K.
AYISHA THASLEEMA N.P.
RESPONDENT/S:
1 THE GRIEVANCE OFFICER
NATIONAL CYBER CRIME REPORTING PORTAL - NCCRP,
KERALA REGION, REPRESENTED BY ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR
GENERAL OF POLICE, POLICE HEADQUARTERS,
VAZHUTHACAUD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695010
2 UNION OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS NORTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI,
REPRESENTED BY ITS HOME SECRETARY, PIN - 110001
3 THE CITY UNION BANK
KOZHIKODE BRANCH, B6 GROUND FLOOR, THARIF ARCADE,
MINI BYPASS RD, PUTHIYARA, KOZHIKODE, KERALA
REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGER, PIN - 673004
4 CYBER POLICE STATION CENTRAL REGION
BRIHAN MUMBAI CITY, FIRST FLOOR, BANDRA KURLA
COMPLEX RD, OPPOSITE ICICI BANK, G BLOCK BKC,
WP(C) NO. 42921 OF 2024
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BANDRA EAST, MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, REPRESENTED BY
THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, PIN - 400051
OTHER PRESENT:
DSGI SRI T C KRISNA GP SMT VIDYA KURIAKOSE
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION
ON 17.01.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE
FOLLOWING:
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C.S.DIAS, J.
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WP(C) No.42921 of 2024
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Dated this the 17th day of January, 2025
JUDGMENT
The writ petition is filed to direct the 3 rd
respondent bank to lift the freezing of the petitioner's
bank account bearing No.500101013958826.
2. The petitioner's case is that, he is the holder of
the above bank account with the 3rd respondent bank. To
the petitioner's surprise, the 3rd respondent has frozen
the petitioner's bank account pursuant to the requisition
received from the 4th respondent. The action of the 3 rd
respondent is illegal and arbitrary. Hence, this writ
petition.
3. Heard; the learned counsel appearing for the
petitioner.
4. On a perusal of the materials on record, I find
that there are several disputed transactions mentioned
in Ext.P2 requisition.
5. In considering an identical matter, this Court
in Dr.Sajeer v. Reserve Bank of India [2024 (1) KLT
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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."
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
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(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 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
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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:
(i). The 3rd 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;
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(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 freeze or remove
the lien, as the case may be, on the petitioner's
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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
rkc/17.01.25
WP(C) NO. 42921 OF 2024
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APPENDIX OF WP(C) 42921/2024
PETITIONER EXHIBITS
Exhibit P1 A TRUE COPY OF THE BANK STATEMENT OF THE
PETITIONER'S SAVINGS ACCOUNT, HAVING
ACCOUNT NO. 500101013958826 MAINTAINED
IN THE CITY UNION BANK, KOZHIKODE
BRANCH. ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT
Exhibit P2 A TRUE COPY OF THE COMMUNICATION GIVEN
BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT TO THE PETITIONER
REGARDING THE ALLEGED CYBER-CRIME, DATED
20.11.2024
