- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19027 WP No. 10504 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 7TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 10504 OF 2026 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: MR. JASWANTH BHAWAL, S/O HUKAMARAM, AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS, R/@ NO. 168, 2ND LOOR, NARYAPAPA COMPLEX, NEAR GANESH TEMPLES HENNUR CROSS, GANESH TEMPLES, KALYAN NAGAR, BANGALORE, BANGALORE NORTH, PO: KALYANANAGAR - 560 043. &PETITIONER (BY SRI. AKASH B. SHETTY, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. NODAL CYBER CELL OFFICER, CYBER CRIME DIVISION, CID HEADQUARTERS, CARLTON HOUSE, PALACE ROAD, BENGALURU - 560 001, KARNATAKA. E-MAIL: cybercrimenodal@ksp.gov.in 2. HDFC BANK, REPRESENTED BY, THE BRANCH MANAGER HDFC BANK, KAMMANAHALLI BRANCH, Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19027 WP No. 10504 of 2026 NO.36, AROGYAPPA LAYOUT, KAMMANAHALLI MAIN ROAD, OPP: RK HOSPITAL, KAMMANAHALLI, BENGALURU - 560 084. &RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. ADITYA DIWAKAR, AGA FOR R1; SRI. JAI M. PATIL, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECTION TO THE RESPONDENT NO.2 BANK TO UNFREEZE THE BANK ACCOUNT OF THE PETITIONER AND PERMIT THE PETITIONER TO USE AND OPERATE HIS BANK ACCOUNT BEARING NO.50100656899370, HAVING IFSC HDFC0003719, MAINTAINED IN THE HDFC BANK, KAMMANAHALLI BRANCH, BANGALORE, KARNATAKA. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM ORAL ORDER This petition is filed being aggrieved by the action of respondent No.2 in debit freezing the petitioner's account bearing No.50100656899370 maintaining in respondent No.2/Bank. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19027 WP No. 10504 of 2026 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the respondents. Perused the records. 3. Having perused the material on record, this Court is of the considered view that though the Investigating Agency is vested with the authority to secure suspected proceeds of crime or the availability of funds during the course of investigation, such power cannot be exercised in a manner that results in a complete embargo on the operation of the petitioner9s bank account, particularly when the amount alleged to be involved is specifically quantified. 4. In the present case, the alleged amount is only ¹15/-. Therefore, this Court is of the opinion that the interest of the investigation would be sufficiently safeguarded if a lien is marked to a limited extent. Accordingly, it would be just and appropriate to direct that the lien shall operate only to an extent of ¹100/-, notwithstanding that the quantified amount is ¹15/-. The - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19027 WP No. 10504 of 2026 petitioner shall be permitted to operate the bank account for any amount exceeding ¹100/-. Any apprehension to the contrary, as expressed by the respondent3State, does not merit acceptance in the facts of the present case. 5. It is further directed that the petitioner shall maintain a minimum balance of ¹100/- in the said account until completion of the investigation or until further orders are passed by the competent authority. 6. For the foregoing reasons, this Court proceeds to pass the following: ORDER i) The writ petition is allowed in part. ii) Respondent No.23Bank is directed to mark a lien on the petitioner9s bank account bearing No.50100656899370 to the extent of ¹100/-. iii) The petitioner is permitted to operate the said bank account for any amount in excess of ¹100/-. Respondent No.23Bank shall not - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:19027 WP No. 10504 of 2026 impose any restriction on the operation of the account beyond ¹100/-, pending completion of the investigation by respondent No.13Investigating Agency. Sd/- (SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE GJM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 12