APHC010555202024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] SATURDAY,THE SEVENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO WRIT PETITION NO: 29722/2024 Between: MANOJ RS, S/O. K. RAVEENDRAN NAIR, AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS, OCC BUSINESS R/O. MANJU NIVAS MANALUVILA EDACODE NEMOM PO. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP., BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HOME, SECRETARIAT, AT VELAGAPUDI, AMRAVATI. 2. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, SRI SATHYASAI DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, 3. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, PARIGI POLICE STATION, SRI SATHYASAI DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH. 4. ICICI BANK, , KOWDIYAR BRANCH, TRIVANDRUM, KERALA. ...RESPONDENT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner: T S ANIRUDH REDDY Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR HOME 2. KUNUKU RAJA SEKHAR 2 Dr. YLR, J W.P.No.29722 of 2024 Dated 07.03.2026 The Court made the following: ORDER: The Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief:- “…to issue an appropriate writ or order or direction more particularly a writ in the nature of writ of Mandmaus declaring the actions of the Respondent No 2 to 3 in directing the Respondent No 4 without any information / intimation to the Petitioner to freeze the Petitioners Bank Account with Kowdiar Branch Trivandrum bearing A/c No 038905003647 with Kowdiar Branch Trivandrum IFSC Code ICIC0000389 as illegal arbitrary highhanded apart from being violative of Articles 14 19 and 3 00A of Constitution of India and consequently set aside the action of the Respondent No 2 to 4 in freezing the Petitioners Bank Account with ICICI Bank Trivandrum bearing A/c No 038905003647 with Kowdiar Branch Trivandrum IFSC Code ICIC0000389 and pass….” 2. No representation for respondent No.4/Bank. 3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Government Pleader. 4. Mr. T.S. Anirudh Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that the actions of Respondent Nos.2 and 3 in directing Respondent No.4, without any information or intimation to the petitioner, to freeze the petitioner’s bank account with Kowdiar Branch, Trivandrum, bearing A/c No.038905003647 with Kowdiar Branch, Trivandrum, IFSC Code: ICIC0000389, are illegal and arbitrary. 5. Sri P. Ajay Babu, learned Assistant Government Pleader, on written instructions, submits that the respondent police, at no point of time, have 3 Dr. YLR, J W.P.No.29722 of 2024 Dated 07.03.2026 received any complaint either from the petitioner or from any other person in this regard. It is further submitted that the allegations raised by the petitioner are financial in nature and the respondent police are in no way concerned with such matters. The respondent police have never instructed Respondent No.4 Bank to freeze the petitioner’s bank account. It is further submitted that the petitioner ought to have arrayed the cyber crime authorities as respondents in the present Writ Petition. 6. Though Respondent No.4, on 05.10.2024, mentioned that a lien was marked for an amount of Rs.74,000/-, the account of the petitioner bearing No.038905003647 has been frozen. Respondent No.4, pursuant to the directions of the cyber crime team or any competent authority, can either freeze the account or mark a lien for certain suspicious transactions or amounts. However, Respondent No.4 has no authority to freeze the entire account when the lien is only for a specific amount. The petitioner is doing business and if the entire account is frozen, it would cripple his financial transactions and business activities. 7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the Writ Petition is disposed of directing the Respondent No.4 to mark lien only to the extent of suspicious transactions for an amount of Rs.74,000/- or any other suspicious amounts or transactions and to defreeze the petitioner’s account bearing No.038905003647. However, it is made clear that whenever any cyber crime authority or any departmental official issues any 4 Dr. YLR, J W.P.No.29722 of 2024 Dated 07.03.2026 communication for further freezing of any suspicious transactions, Respondent No.4 is at liberty to act in accordance with law. 8. In the result, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, Miscellaneous petitions, if any pending, shall stand closed. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 07.03.2026 RSI 5 Dr. YLR, J W.P.No.29722 of 2024 Dated 07.03.2026 56 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO WRIT PETITION NO: 29722 of 2024 Date: 07.03.2026 RSI