Online Fraud Case: Court Denies Bail To 2 Accused

Srinagar, Nov 3: The Court of Second Additional Sessions Judge Srinagar Wednesday denied bail to two accused in an online fraud case.

The Cyber Police Station Kashmir had received a complaint from Manzoor Ahmad Lone, wherein the latter had stated that Rs 98, 012 were detected from his account after he got a call from an unknown number asking him for registration of new SIM card documents.

Following the complaint, Cyber Police Kashmir arrested two people in the case and was taken into custody on the pretext that they are involved in the case under the FIR bearing No.19/21.

Hearing a case, Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, Second Additional Session Judge in an order said, “….It is needful to point out that the case is still under investigation and more recoveries and arrests are expected and in case the petitioners are released on bail, there is every apprehension that they may jump over the concession of bail and tamper with the prosecution evidence.”

Online fraud involving cyber-crime, the court said, is an enormous rise in the country and “therefore, courts should deal such matter with iron hand.”

“Now-a-days, these offences have become much more worrying as they are being conducted through electronic means, the prevention of which requires strict and prompt action for the safety of innocent citizens”, the court said, adding, “ “The modus operandi of the crime suggests meticulous planning and deft execution.”

One of the accused is a postgraduate student and another a well established businessman, the court said based on statement by their counsel. “Instead of using their qualification or expertise for some novel purpose, they chose to earn their livelihood by cheating gullible people by using fraudulent methods”, the order reads, adding, “In overall view of the case, the case for grant of bail is not made out in favour of the petitioners/accused.

Resultantly, application for bail merits rejection and is accordingly rejected. (GNS)