1 25-Cr.BA-1057-2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR. CRIMINAL APPLICATION [B.A.] NO. 1057 OF 2026 Meenal d/o Mahesh Choudhary -- VERSUS -- State of Maharashtra __________________________________________________________________________ Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders of directions Court's or Judge's orders. and Registrar's Orders. Mr. M.V. Rai, Advocate for the Applicant. Mr. N.R. Rode, A.P.P. for the Non-applicant/State. CORAM : M.M. NERLIKAR, J. DATE : SEPTEMBER 22, 2026. Heard. 2. The present application is filed seeking regular bail in Crime No.49/2025 for the offences punishable under Sections 204, 205, 318(2), 318(4), 319(2), 336(3), 340(2), 61(2)(b) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 66-C and 66-D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, registered with Cyber Police Station, District Buldhana. 3. Brief facts of the prosecution case are that the informant, a retired Chief Cashier of the Central Bank of India, Nandura Branch, alleged that between 28/10/2025 and 07/11/2025, unknown persons contacted him through voice calls and Piyush Mahajan 2026:BHC-NAG:12608 2 25-Cr.BA-1057-2026 WhatsApp video calls, impersonating as police officers. It is alleged that the accused persons informed the informant that he was involved in money-laundering and terrorist-funding activities and that complaints had been lodged against his bank account by more than 20 persons. It is further alleged that informant was placed under “digital arrest”. Thereafter, the accused persons threatened him and directed him to refund the amount. Consequently, the informant transfered an aggregate amount of Rs.2,01,90,000/- through RTGS to various bank accounts between 28/10/2025 and 07/11/2025. Upon realising that he had been defrauded, the informant approached the Cyber Police Station, Buldhana, and lodged the report. Based on these allegations, the First Information Report (F.I.R.) came to be registered. 4. The learned counsel for the applicant submits that so far as the applicant is concerned, the allegations in the F.I.R. do not disclose the name of the applicant. He further submits that, so far as the F.I.R. is concerned, it shows that under the guise of a digital arrest, the informant was compelled to transfer an amount of Rs.2,01,90,000/- in 5 different accounts. He further submits that insofar as the present applicant is concerned, the allegations are Piyush Mahajan 3 25-Cr.BA-1057-2026 confined to the extent that applicant has facilitated the opening of the said account into which the amount obtained under the guise of digital arrest was transferred. He further submits that identical allegations are made against the applicant in other F.I.R. registered against her, however, she had already been granted bail in those cases. He further submits that, even in one of the cases, the High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad has granted bail to the applicant, considering the fact that the prosecution had failed to show or indicate any material circumstances against the applicant. Under such circumstances, he submits that the applicant deserves to be granted bail. 5. On the other hand, the learned A.P.P. vehemently opposes the application and submits that the applicant and other accused persons are involved in a digital arrest scam. There is a link between accused No.1 and the present applicant. There are around 127 calls between the applicant and accused No.1 during the period from August 2025 to October 2025. He further submits that every member of the said gang is working at a different levels. Even the applicant is one of the member who has been entrusted with the task of opening the accounts in different names by approaching persons who are Piyush Mahajan 4 25-Cr.BA-1057-2026 interested to open the account in their names. It is submitted that, the applicant used to lure such persons and facilitate the opening of bank accounts in their names, which were thereafter used for commission of the offence. Therefore, he submits that the present offence is not the act of a single person, however, a concerted act of all accused persons, who are working at different levels to dupe innocent people. So far as the present case is concerned, the informant has been defrauded for an amount of Rs.2,01,90,000/- out of which a part of the amount was transferred to one of the accounts, the opening of which was facilitated by the present applicant therefore it cannot be viewed in isolation from that of the other accused persons. He submits that, the High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad has released the applicant on bail, as the prosecution therein has failed to show the involvement of the present applicant in the said crime. He further submits that at present there are four crimes, including the present crime, registered against the applicant involving similar allegations. Under such circumstances, the learned A.P.P. submits that digital arrest scams have become a menace to society wherein innocent persons, particularly elderly persons are falling prey to such digital arrest, therefore, he prays to reject the application. Piyush Mahajan 5 25-Cr.BA-1057-2026 6. I have given my thoughtful consideration to the submissions advanced by both the learned counsels. I have also perused the F.I.R. and the material collected during the investigation. From the F.I.R., it reveals that this is a case of digital arrest wherein the informant was compelled to transfer the amount of Rs.2,01,90,000/- in various accounts by one Sandeep Roy. Initially, the amount was transferred in 5 accounts, however, from one of the accounts, some part of the amount was transferred to the account which is maintained at Indore in Karur Vysya Bank, in the name of Hari Traders, wherein the applicant was instrumental in opening the said account. It is further to be noted that so far as the amount is concerned, Rs.6,20,000/- was transferred in the account of Hari Traders. In fact, Hari Traders is a fictitious name, there is no entity by the name Hari Traders. Wherein the proprietor of the said firm namely, Hari Traders, was shown as one of the co-accused person Pralhad Chauhan. It further appears that the documents were created showing that Pralhad Chauhan and Prakash Rao were the proprietors of the said firm. It is further to be noted that the applicant had 4 calls with Pralhad Chauhan. Whereas there are 127 calls between the applicant and accused No.1 between August, 2025 and October, 2025. Under such Piyush Mahajan 6 25-Cr.BA-1057-2026 circumstances, it appears that the applicant is instrumental in opening the accounts for this digital arrest scam. It further appears that all the accused persons are working at different levels, right from calling and trapping the persons, and thereafter, compelling them under the garb of digital arrest to transfer substantial amounts in various accounts. Whereas, many accounts seem to be mule accounts. Under such circumstances, it cannot be said that the role of the applicant is independent in nature. In fact, every member of this organized gang is working at a different level, and therefore, the Investigating Officer thought it fit to invoke Section 111 of the BNS. Under such circumstances, in my opinion, the individual role of the present applicant cannot be considered, however, it is a gang who has been working at different levels. Under such circumstances, I am not inclined to grant bail to the applicant. Hence, the Criminal Application is rejected. Pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, also stand disposed of. [ M.M. NERLIKAR, J ] Piyush Mahajan Signed by: Piyush Ramesh Mahajan Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 23/09/2026 18:26:11