Tanmay Maini Vs State, NCT of Delhi — Delhi HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Tanmay Maini Vs State, NCT of Delhi — Delhi HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Petitioner permitted to operate his Kotak Mahindra Bank account for the balance, with the lien retained only on Rs.21,674/- (the cheated amount under FIR No.59/2026); the bank left at liberty to take further steps upon any subsequent communication from the State of Telangana; petitioner to raise his other contentions and defence before the appropriate forum at the appropriate stage.

Issue for consideration

Whether directions should be issued to the respondent to defreeze the petitioner's bank account so that he may operate it despite the lien created in connection with the Dwarka cyber complaint. +1 more

Court's answer

With the State's Standing Counsel (Crl) assuring that, since the cheated amount attributable to FIR No.59/2026 is only Rs.21,674/-, the I.O. would instruct the bank to retain the lien on that amount alone and permit the petitioner to operate the account for the balance (with liberty to the bank to act on any subsequent communication from the State of Telangana), and with the petitioner stating he was left with no grievance, the court disposed of the petition in those terms.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

W.P.(CRL) 1230/2026 (High Court of Delhi, Manoj Jain J., decision 17.04.2026, oral judgment): Petitioner Tanmay Maini sought directions to defreeze his Kotak Mahindra Bank savings account No. 5647267649 (Vishal Enclave, Delhi), frozen in relation to a cyber complaint case of Dwarka, with the bank communicating a lien of Rs.21,674/-; his representation to the DCP, Cyber Cell, Dwarka lay undecided. The State disclosed that FIR No.59/2026 stood registered (communication to the bank made through the designated portal): complainant Neelam Sharma reported online fraud of Rs.1,28,368/-, of which Rs.31,796/- was traced to an Indian Overseas Bank account and Rs.21,674/- onward to the petitioner's account; the same account was also under scrutiny in a cyber crime pending with the State of Telangana. Relying on Neelkanth Pharma Logistics (P) Ltd. v. Union of India, 2025 SCC OnLine Del 1055 and Malabar Gold & Diamond Ltd. v. Union of India, 2026 SCC OnLine Del 297, the petitioner sought to operate the account. The State undertook that the I.O. would instruct the bank to retain the lien on Rs.21,674/- only and permit operation of the balance, with liberty to act on any future Telangana communication; the petitioner accepted, reserving his other contentions and defence for the appropriate forum. The petition was disposed of accordingly.

$~85

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

% Date of Decision: 17^th April, 2026

- W.P.(CRL) 1230/2026 TANMAY MAINI

.....Petitioner Through: Mr. Hemant Gulati, Advocate.

versus

STATE, NCT OF DELHI

.....Respondent Through: Mr. Sanjeev Bhandari, ASC for the State with Mr. Arjit Sharma and Ms. Sakshi Jha, Advocates. SI Divyanshu and H.C. Ramotar.

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ JAIN J U D G M E N T (oral)

Petitioner seeks directions to the respondent to defreeze his bank account.

He is maintaining a savings bank account bearing No. 5647267649 with Kotak Mahindra Bank,Vishal Enclave, Delhi.

His account was frozen in relation to some cyber complaint case of Dwarka, Delhi and he was informed by the bank that a lien of Rs.21,674/- had been created on his account. Fact, however, remains that his entire account has been frozen and, being a student, he is not even in a position to operate the bank and to meet his day-to-day needs.

According to petitioner, even with respect to the credit entry of Rs.21,674/-, the transaction was genuine one as the above amount was received in lieu of some decoration work which was carried out by his mother.

W.P.(CRL) 1230/2026 1

Signature Not Verified

Digitally Signed By:SONIA THAPLIYAL Signing Da te:1 8.04.2026 16:14:15

According to petitioner, he sent a representation to the concerned DCP, Cyber Cell, Dwarka but such representation has yet not been decided.

The only grievance, at the moment, is that he may be permitted to operate the abovesaid amount, with lien of Rs.21, 674/-. In this regard, he also strongly relies upon observations contained in Neelkanth Pharma Logistics (P) Ltd. v. Union of India, 2025 SCC OnLine Del 1055 and Malabar Gold & Diamond Ltd. v. Union of India, 2026 SCC OnLine Del 297 .

Learned Standing Counsel (Crl) for the State appears on advance notice and the concerned I.O. is also present and it is informed that FIR No.59/2026 has been registered and the communication to the bank was through the designated portal. 8. As per the abovesaid FIR, one Neelam Sharma (complainant) had reported that she was victim of online fraud and was cheated of Rs.1,28,368/and resultantly prayed for appropriate legal action. 9. Learned Standing Counsel (Crl) for the State submits that, as per investigation, a sum of Rs. 31,796/- was got transferred to one account maintained with Indian Overseas Bank, and from such account, part of the amount i.e. Rs. 21,674/- was transferred to the bank account of the petitioner, held with Kotak Mahindra Bank.

During course of the argument, learned Standing Counsel (Crl) for the State also informed that same bank account is under scrutiny in relation to one another cyber crime pending with State of Telangana.

He, however, submits that since the cheated amount in question, pertaining to the FIR in question, is only Rs.21,674/-, the I.O. would instruct the concerned bank to put a lien with respect to the abovesaid amount only and to permit the petitioner to operate the bank account for the balance. He,

W.P.(CRL) 1230/2026 2

Signature Not Verified

Digitally Signed By:SONIA THAPLIYAL Signing Da te:1 8.04.2026 16:14:15

however, submits that, as and when, any communication is received from State of Telangana in relation to any other cyber crime, the bank would be at liberty to take further steps in terms of any such subsequent communication. 12. Learned counsel for the petitioner states that in view of the abovesaid assurance given to him, he is, at the moment, left with no grievance in the matter and would raise his other contentions and defence before the appropriate forum at appropriate stage.

The petition stands, accordingly, disposed of, in aforesaid terms.

(MANOJ JAIN) JUDGE

APRIL 17, 2026/ss/pb

Signature Not Verified

W.P.(CRL) 1230/2026 3

Digitally Signed By:SONIA THAPLIYAL Signing Da te:1 8.04.2026 16:14:15