1 37 BA 1079.26 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR CRIMINAL APPLICATION (BA) NO. 1079/2026 (Aditya Prakash Bhandare Vs. State of Maharashtra) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders of directions and Registrar's orders - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mr. H. V. Dhage, Advocate for applicant. Mr. H. R. Dhumale, APP for non-applicant/State. CORAM: M. M. NERLIKAR, J . DATED : 31/08/2026. Heard. 2. By this application, the applicant is seeking bail in connection with Crime No.398/2026 registered with Police Station Khapa, Tq. Saoner, Dist. Nagpur Rural for the offences punishable under Sections 61(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. 3. The brief facts of the prosecution case are that the present FIR has been registered on the basis of a written report dated 15/07/2026, lodged by a Police Constable of Police Station Khapa. The information was received from Maharashtra Cyber, Mumbai, regarding certain “mule bank” accounts allegedly being used for cyber and financial fraud. The applicant's Bank of Baroda Account No. 71100100024267 was identified as one such account. It is 2 37 BA 1079.26 alleged that, during the period from 16/01/2026 to 30/05/2026, a sum of Rs. 10,466/- was credited into the applicant's account, which is alleged to be the proceeds of a cyber crime reported on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) vide acknowledgment No.33101260014267. 4. The learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant had given his account details to the co- accused for the purpose of carrying out share market transactions. The co-accused committed the alleged fraud and the amount in question was thereafter deposited into the applicant's account. The applicant has no connection with the alleged online fraud. The learned counsel for the applicant further submits that it is the co-accused, who is the main accused in the alleged offence and that two other offences are also registered against him. Under such circumstances, he prays for grant of bail. 5. On the other hand, the learned APP submits that the investigation is still in progress. The co-accused is yet to be arrested though a notice under section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been issued 3 37 BA 1079.26 to him. It is further submitted that the amount credited into the account of the present applicant is debited from the account holder situated in the Uttar Pradesh, as per the instructions given by the co-accused. He further submits that another cyber fraud case has also been registered at the Saoner Police Station against the present applicant. Therefore, the applicant does not deserve to be granted bail. 6. I have considered the rival submissions and perused the record. On perusal of the first information report, it appears that a suspicious transaction was noticed by the bank officials in the account of the present applicant. The said information was uploaded on the portal maintained by the Ministry of Home Affairs namely National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. It further appears that, on the basis of the said information, the present first information report came to be registered. From the investigation conducted so far, it is revealed that, during the period from 16/01/2026 to 30/05/2026, amounts were credited into the applicant’s account from various bank accounts and from different places. The total amount credited is Rs.10,466/- which is suspected to be proceeds 4 37 BA 1079.26 of Online fraud. No doubt, insofar as the amount is concerned, the same appears to be a meager amount. However, cyber frauds are a growing threat which has increasingly become a menance to society. Such fraudulent activities do not target any specific group, but affect people across all strata of society. Considering the fact that the investigation is at a nascent stage, and the fact that another crime at Saoner Police Station is also registered against the applicant, I am not inclined to grant bail, hence the application is rejected. 7. Pending application (s), if any, stand disposed of accordingly. ( M. M. NERLIKAR , J.) Gohane Signed by: Mr. J. B. Gohane Designation: PS To Honourable Judge Date: 01/09/2026 19:38:59