- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:3177 CRL.P No. 13629 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 13629 OF 2024 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) BETWEEN: DEEPAK S @ SHAKTHIVELU DEEPAK S/O SAKHTIVEL, AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, PERMANENT RESIDENT OF SLC16, NORTH HOUSING UNIT, SELVAPURAM, COIMBATURU NORTH, COIMBATORE, TAMIL NADU-641 026 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. B.M. MOHAN KUMAR, ADVOCATE) AND: CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION BENGALURU CITY, BENGALURU REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU-560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. RANGASWAMY R., HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S 438 CR.PC (FILED U/S 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER AND DIRECT THE RESPONDENT POLICE TO RELEASE HIM ON BAIL IN THE EVENT OF HIS ARREST IN Digitally signed by LAKSHMI T Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:3177 CRL.P No. 13629 of 2024 RELATION TO THE CASE IN CRIME NO.25/2024 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION, BENGALURU CITY, BENGALURU NOW PENDING ON THE FILE OF COURT OF 45TH ADDITIONAL CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE AT BENGALURU FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES UNDER SECTIONS 419, 420 OF IPC AND SECTION 66(C) AND 66(D) OF IT ACT 20 B. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE MOHAMMAD NAWAZ ORAL ORDER Heard the learned counsel for petitioner, learned High Court Government Pleader for the State and perused the material on record. 2. Petitioner is before this Court seeking anticipatory bail, apprehending his arrest in Crime No.25/2024 of Cyber Crime Police Station, Bengaluru City registered for offences punishable under Section 66(C) and - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:3177 CRL.P No. 13629 of 2024 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Section 419 and 420 of IPC. 3. The sum and substance of the complaint lodged by one P.Raghunath Achari son of late Chinnappa is that, accused Nos.1 and 2 named in the complaint by inducing the complainant to invest money in online trading with a promise of huge profit, cheated him to the tune of Rs.1,52,99,599/-. 4. It is alleged that accused Nos.1 and 2 provided free classes on trading and company analysis, and added complainant to a whatsapp group of more than 110 members. Accused recommended the members to buy stocks from his VIP trading account and asked them to shift regular trading accounts to a high net-worth VIP account. It is alleged that complainant was forced to invest money which was borrowed from several others and he transferred a total sum of Rs.1,52,99,599/- in various bank accounts provided by them. - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:3177 CRL.P No. 13629 of 2024 5. The name of the petitioner is not in the First Information Report. It is alleged that accused Nos.1 and 2 have induced the complainant to join the online trading classes and then forced him to invest huge sum with a promise of huge profits and later cheated him etc. 6. Petitioner is said to be one of the Directors of a Company called ‘Poltergeist Pay Technologies’, a Technology Service Provider. He is now arraigned as accused No.18. Allegations are that even the Directors of the said company are involved in the alleged fraudulent activities. However, in the FIR, allegations are made only against accused Nos.1 and 2. 7. The allegations against the petitioner have to be proved in due course. It is submitted that accused similarly placed as petitioners namely Directors of ‘Poltergeist Pay Technologies’ have been enlarged on bail by the trial Court. The offences alleged are not punishable with death or imprisonment for life. The petitioner has - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC:3177 CRL.P No. 13629 of 2024 undertaken to cooperate with the investigation of the case. Apprehension of the prosecution can be met with by imposing necessary conditions. Hence, the relief sought in the petition can be granted. Accordingly, the following: ORDER Petition is allowed. Petitioner/accused No.18 in Crime No.25/2024 of Cyber Crime Police Station, Bengaluru City, shall be released in the event of his arrest, subject to following conditions: a) He shall appear before the Investigating Officer within ten days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order and shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) with two sureties for the likesum and one of them shall be local surety. b) He shall furnish his address/contact number and shall inform the I.O in case - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC:3177 CRL.P No. 13629 of 2024 of change in the address/contact number. c) He shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence/witnesses either directly or indirectly. e) He shall regularly attend the Court proceedings. Sd/- (MOHAMMAD NAWAZ) JUDGE HB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 26 Ct: ra