$~87 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI # CNR No. DLHC010384552026 + BAIL APPLN. 3397/2026 & CRL.M.A. 25376/2026 VIJAY PRAKASH .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sidharth Joshi, Ms. Ambareen, Mohd. Zaki and Mr. Sourabh Gupta, Advs. versus STATE NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent Through: Ms. Richa Dhawan, APP SI Bhag Singh, PS Okhla Industrial Area, South-East, Delhi CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MADHU JAIN O R D E R % 19.08.2026 1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode. 2. The present application has been filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as 'BNSS') seeking grant of anticipatory bail to the applicant in FIR No. 161/2018 for the offences punishable under Sections 420/406/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter referred to as ‘IPC’) registered at Police Station Okhla Industrial Area, District South-East, Delhi. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the FIR in question was registered in the year 2018; however, after a lapse of nearly eight years, the petitioner has now been served with a notice under Section 41 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the “Cr.P.C.”). 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 24/08/2026 at 10:28:40 4. He further submits that the petitioner is himself a victim, inasmuch as his PAN card was allegedly misused by an unknown person for opening the account in question. It is submitted that no proceeds of crime were received in the petitioner’s account, nor is he a beneficiary of the alleged transaction. 5. Per contra, learned APP for the State submits that the PAN card of the petitioner was used for opening several bank accounts with public sector banks for availing loan facilities. It is submitted that, owing to successive transfers of the Investigating Officers, the investigation could not be concluded earlier. She further submits that the material collected during investigation prima facie indicates the involvement of the petitioner, inasmuch as the PAN card used for availing the loan facilities is linked with his mobile number as well as his e-mail address. It is contended that custodial interrogation of the petitioner is necessary to unearth the entire conspiracy and trace the money trail. 6. The Court has heard learned counsel for the petitioner as well as learned APP for the State. 7. The petitioner was initially granted interim protection by the learned Trial Court which was subsequently withdrawn for the reasons that he failed to co-operate with the investigation despite specific directions of the Court. 8. As the role of the petitioner as well as that of the other co-accused persons is yet to be fully ascertained and further the larger conspiracy and the money trail is required to be unearthed. 9. Keeping in view these circumstances, no ground for anticipatory bail is made out. 10. Accordingly, the present application is dismissed. Pending application(s), if any, also stand(s) disposed of. 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 24/08/2026 at 10:28:40 11. The order be uploaded on the website forthwith. MADHU JAIN, J AUGUST 19, 2026/b/PG 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 24/08/2026 at 10:28:40