APHC010374112026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH THURSDAY, THE 3 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WRIT PETITION NO: 20340/2026 Between: 1. K.NAVEEN CHOWDARY, S/O K. JAGADEESH, AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS R/O 1-102, CHINNA DEVALAPURAM, NARAYANAPURAM, KURNOOL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH 1. THE UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS, NORTH BLOCK, NEW 2. THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS REGIONAL SECRETARY, REGIONAL OFFICE, STALIN CENTRAL, D. NO. 27 37-158, MG ROAD, GOVERNORPET, VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH - 520002. 3. THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION BANK, REP. BY ITS BRANCH MANAGER, NANDYAL BRANCH, 2 ROAD, NANDYAL,KURNOOL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH 518501. 4. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION, BUNGLOW NO. 15, DAFNALA CROSS ROAD, NEAR IPS MESS, SHAHI BAGH, AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT 5. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION, BAILEY ROAD, RAJBANSI NAGAR, PATNA, BIHAR 6. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION, SECTOR- 8, JAGADHRI, YAMUNA NAGAR, HARYANA 7. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION, D-BLOCK, SECTOR - W.P.No.20340 of 2026 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE 3rd DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WRIT PETITION NO: 20340/2026 CHOWDARY, S/O K. JAGADEESH, AGED ABOUT 26 102, CHINNA DEVALAPURAM, NARAYANAPURAM, KURNOOL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518533. ...PETITIONER AND THE UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS, NORTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI - 110001. THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS REGIONAL SECRETARY, REGIONAL OFFICE, STALIN CENTRAL, D. NO. 27 158, MG ROAD, GOVERNORPET, VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION BANK, ITS BRANCH MANAGER, NANDYAL BRANCH, 2- ROAD, NANDYAL,KURNOOL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION, BUNGLOW NO. 15, DAFNALA CROSS ROAD, NEAR IPS MESS, SHAHI BAGH, AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT - 380004. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION, BAILEY ROAD, RAJBANSI NAGAR, PATNA, BIHAR - 800001. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION, 8, JAGADHRI, YAMUNA NAGAR, HARYANA - 135003. HOUSE OFFICER, CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION, - 18, KAVI NAGAR, UTTAR PRADESH RC,J W.P.No.20340 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH [3332] THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI CHOWDARY, S/O K. JAGADEESH, AGED ABOUT 26 102, CHINNA DEVALAPURAM, NARAYANAPURAM, ...PETITIONER THE UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS REGIONAL SECRETARY, REGIONAL OFFICE, STALIN CENTRAL, D. NO. 27- 158, MG ROAD, GOVERNORPET, VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION BANK, -414, N.K. ROAD, NANDYAL,KURNOOL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION, BUNGLOW NO. 15, DAFNALA CROSS ROAD, NEAR IPS MESS, THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION, 800001. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION, 135003. HOUSE OFFICER, CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION, RC,J W.P.No.20340 of 2026 2 ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue a Writ, Order or Direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of MANDAMUS declaring the action of the respondents in freezing the bank account bearing No. 50100523507702, Nandyal Branch, IFSC Code - HDFC000095 of the petitioner based on the complaints raised by the Respondents No. 4 to 7 contrary to the procedure established u/s 106 107 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Surakdha Sanhita, 2023, as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 19(1)(g), 21 and 300-A of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the Respondents to unfreeze the petitioners Bank Account No. 50100523507702, IFSC Code - HDFC000095 and permit the petitioner to operate the said account number by exercising lien on the disputed amount allegedly credited to the petitioners account and pass IA NO: 1 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct the respondents to unfreeze the petitioner’s Bank Account No. 50100523507702, Nandyal Branch, IFSC Code - HDFC000095 and permit the petitioner to operate the said account number by exercising lien on the disputed amount allegedly credited to the petitioner’s bank accountpending disposal of the Writ Petition and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. MANDALIKA KAVYA SUDHA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR HOME 2. MANNAM VENKATA KRISHNA RAO 3. CHALASANI AJAY KUMAR 4. P SARASWATHI CENTRAL GOVT COUNSEL RC,J W.P.No.20340 of 2026 3 ORDER This writ petition is filed questioning the action of respondents in freezing account of the petitioner bearing No.50100523507702 in HDFC Bank based on the complaint raised by respondent nos.4 to 7. 2. Heard Ms. Mandalika Kavya Sudha, learned counsel for petitioner, Sri V.Krishna Rao Mannam, learned counsel for respondent no.2-Reserve Bank of India, and Sri Chalasani Ajay Kumar, learned Standing Counsel for respondent no.3 bank. 3. Ms.Mandalika Kavya Sudha, learned counsel, while reiterating the contents of the writ affidavit would contend that as per the directions from the Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, the respondent bank debit freezed the petitioner’s bank account in violation of the principles of natural justice and law established by Hon’ble Supreme Court and thereby disabling him from operating his account, despite the fact that the petitioner is not an accused in any of the alleged cyber crimes nor had any acquaintance with any person involved in the alleged crimes and therefore, blanket freezing of the account of the petitioner in its entirety and even if there is any intimation/direction/ requisition, the blanket ought to have confined debit-freezing of the account only to the extent of the disputed amount enabling the petitioner to deal with his account and transact beyond that limit. Accordingly, prayed to allow the petition. RC,J W.P.No.20340 of 2026 4 4. Sri Chalasani Ajay Kumar, learned Standing Counsel for bank contended that based on the directions of the Cyber Crime Reporting Portal that in relation to a cyber crime certain amount has been transferred to the petitioner subject bank account, the same had been frozen and prayed to pass appropriate orders. 5. Perused the material available on record and considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties. 6. The petitioner’s bank account was frozen as per the instructions received from Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. As of now there is no material to show that the petitioner is an accused in any of the cyber crimes with regard to which the account was frozen. 7. It is fairly settled that debit freezes must be strictly confined to the disputed or suspected amount rather than blocking the entire account. Freezing an entire bank account is considered disproportionate, illegal, and a violation of rights under Articles 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution, as it paralyzes livelihoods and legitimate business operations. Therefore, this court is inclined to direct the bank to mark a lien only on the specific fraudulent/disputed amount while unfreezing the remainder of the account so as to enable the petitioner to operate it normally. 8. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of, directing the respondent bank to mark lien only on the specific disputed amount while unfreezing the RC,J W.P.No.20340 of 2026 5 remainder of the account of the petitioner. There shall be no order as to costs. Pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed. ___________________________ JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI 3rd September,2026. RR