$~3 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI # CNR No. DLHC010260892026 + BAIL APPLN. 2236/2026 PANKAJ CHAUDHARY .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Abhishek Choudhary, Mr. Brijesh Kumar and Mr. Jitendra Kumar Tiwari, Advs. (through VC) versus THE STATE OF NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent Through: Ms. Richa Dhawan, APP for State. SI Hemant, IFSO/Special Cell. CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MADHU JAIN O R D E R % 12.08.2026 1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode. 2. The present application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘BNSS’) has been filed by the Applicant seeking anticipatory bail in FIR No. 18/2026 registered at Police Station Special Cell, Delhi under Sections 318(4), 319, 340 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘BNS’). 3. Learned counsel for the Applicant submits that the Applicant is only 26 years of age and that his career would be ruined if he is arrested. He further submits that, insofar as the Applicant is concerned, the allegation pertains only to an amount of Rs.6,00,000/-, which was not transferred to the account of the Applicant but to the account of a co-accused. 4. Per contra, learned APP for the State submits that the present FIR This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/08/2026 at 10:58:11 relates to a pan-India stock market cyber fraud wherein an amount of approximately Rs.4.06 crores is alleged to have been fraudulently siphoned off through a network of mule accounts. It is further submitted that the Applicant is alleged to be the main conspirator and handler of the syndicate and to have been involved in arranging account holders, coordinating with the co-accused and supervising the operation of bank accounts. 5. Considering the nature and magnitude of the alleged fraud, the specific role attributed to the Applicant as the main conspirator/handler and the fact that the investigation is still underway, this Court is not inclined to exercise its discretion in favour of the Applicant. Accordingly, no ground for grant of anticipatory bail is made out. 6. Accordingly, the present petition is dismissed. Pending application(s), if any, also stand disposed of. 7. The order be uploaded on the website forthwith. MADHU JAIN, J AUGUST 12, 2026/b/m This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/08/2026 at 10:58:11