Case Explained: Relief for cyber crime victims – Legal Perspective

In a significant relief to an elderly couple from Kondhwa, the Pune Cantonment Court has directed the release of Rs 11 lakh from frozen bank accounts to help fund the cancer treatment of the complainant’s wife.

The couple had fallen prey to a cyber fraud in which scammers siphoned off Rs 19.6 lakh by threatening them with a so-called “digital arrest” in a fabricated financial investigation. Acting swiftly, Pune Police froze the accounts into which the money had been transferred, preventing further diversion of funds.

The case is a rare instance where victims of cyber fraud received partial restitution within a month of the crime, highlighting the importance of prompt reporting, coordinated police action and judicial sensitivity in cases involving vulnerable people.

A 70-year-old complainant, a retired government employee, and his 65-year-old wife received a call on September 19 from an unknown number. The caller posed as an officer of a security agency and warned them that they were being probed for financial irregularities.

The cheats coerced the elderly couple into transferring their lifetime savings to multiple bank accounts under the pretext of “verification.” When communication was abruptly cut off, the couple realised they had been cheated.

A complaint was immediately lodged with the Pune Cyber Police, following which an offence was registered at Kondhwa Police Station under the Information Technology Act. Police froze the suspicious bank accounts to safeguard the stolen amount.

However, with the complainant’s wife undergoing cancer treatment, the family soon faced a severe financial crisis. The senior citizen approached the court seeking interim relief through a property return application, citing the urgent need for funds to continue life-saving medical treatment.

The prosecution acknowledged that the frozen amount belonged to the complainant. After considering the medical urgency and police submissions, Judicial Magistrate First Class A.A. Kulkarni ordered the interim release of Rs 11 lakh from the frozen accounts to the complainant.

Conditions imposed

The court imposed safeguards to protect the ongoing investigation. The complainant has been directed to submit a security bond equivalent to the released amount (Rs 10.5 lakh–Rs 11 lakh). Additionally, the couple must provide a written undertaking that the money will be redeposited if required during future legal proceedings.