Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has held that cybercrimes pose a systemic threat to digital trust and economic security, likening their impact to a “silent virus” undermining national progress.“Indeed, cybercrime in our nation operates akin to a silent virus, insidious, disruptive, and exacting a toll on society that extends far beyond mere pecuniary loss, encompassing the bedrock of trust, security, and national progress,” the HC held.Justice Sumeet Goel made these obervations while dismissing the anticipatory bail plea filed by Suhail, 22, in connection with a cyber fraud case registered in the Narnaul area of Mahendragarh district in Haryana.An FIR was registered on Sept 16, 2024, following a complaint filed by Udai Singh, who reported unauthorised withdrawals of Rs 25 lakh from his joint bank account with Punjab National Bank, Narnaul.According to the complaint, multiple fraudulent transactions occurred on Aug 9 and 10, 2024, without the complainant’s knowledge or consent. The funds were allegedly siphoned via RTGS and IMPS transfers. Despite receiving suspicious phone calls purporting to be from bank officials, the complainant initially believed he settled his loan dues, only to later uncover the massive fraud.The police investigation revealed that Rs 10 lakh of the misappropriated amount was traced to a Union Bank account registered in the name of the petitioner. Police submitted that custodial interrogation was crucial to uncovering the wider conspiracy, identifying accomplices, and recovering the siphoned funds.However, the petitioner’s counsel contended that he had no direct role in the transactions and was mentally unfit to manage financial affairs due to a long-standing neurological condition.After hearing all the parties, the HC held that given the inherent nature and profound gravity of such offences and their wide-ranging cascading effects on both society and financial institutions, the court found itself disinclined to grant the relief of anticipatory bail. The material which came on record and preliminary investigation appeared to establish a reasonable basis for the accusations, held the HC while declining bail to the accused.“The deleterious consequences of cybercrimes transcend individual boundaries, imperilling numerous unsuspecting citizens. The gravity of such transgressions cannot, therefore, be understated. They not only jeopardise the financial security and trust reposed by individuals in financial payment gateways and platforms but also inherently expose the broader populace to analogous threats,” observed the judge in its detailed order released on Friday.QUOTE BOX:“The proliferation of online frauds and cybercrimes poses a significant threat, as it systematically erodes public confidence in digital financial transaction platforms. Such erosion runs counter to the aspirations of an advanced and digitally empowered ‘Digital Bharat’ and thus warrants a heightened degree of judicial circumspection,” Justice Sumeet Goel. MSID:: 122249081 413 |