A sessions court in Mumbai has firmly rejected the bail plea of a 20-year-old chemistry graduate student, refusing to accept his defence that funds received in his bank account were an 'innocent mistake'. The court's decision, delivered on December 30 and made public on January 7, 2026, stems from a cyber fraud case where the victim lost over Rs 12 lakh.
Court Rejects 'Innocent Mistake' Defence
Additional Sessions Judge B Y Phad underscored that the student's account had received Rs 23,900, which was a portion of the defrauded Rs 12 lakh. The judge stated this transaction pointed towards the applicant's participation in the crime. Crucially, the investigation uncovered seven other similar complaints where cyber fraudsters allegedly used the same bank account, held by the Nashik-based student, to deposit stolen money.
"The alleged report from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal showing seven other complaints against the applicant’s account is a grave factor," the court order noted. "This suggests that the applicant’s account is consistently being used for cyber-fraudulent activities, negating the plea of 'innocent mistake'."
Details of the Fraud and Arrest
The student was arrested by the Mumbai Cyber Police on November 11 on charges including cheating under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to the First Information Report (FIR), the complainant was lured via social media with an offer to earn money by performing tasks like reviewing hotels. She was eventually persuaded to transfer the large sum into various accounts.
In his bail application, the student claimed he was a victim of circumstances. He argued that he was informed the money was transferred to his account by error and that he merely followed instructions to return or transfer it further. He also stated he had no prior criminal record and no connection to the main accused named in the FIR, Neha Thakkar.
Police Probe Reveals a Pattern
The police opposed the bail, informing the court that the seven other cyber complaints linked to the student's account were filed in different states. They emphasized that the investigation was still at a preliminary stage, with the majority of the stolen Rs 12 lakh yet to be traced. This pattern, the police argued, indicated organized criminal activity rather than a one-off error.
Echoing the police's concerns, the court highlighted the severe threat posed by cybercrimes orchestrated by organised syndicates to citizens' financial security. "The investigation is still at a primary stage. Releasing the applicant at this juncture might hamper the efforts of the police to reach the 'kingpins' of the syndicate," the court concluded, justifying the denial of bail.
The case underscores the legal risks associated with allowing one's bank account to be used for transactions of dubious origin, even if done under the guise of following instructions or correcting a supposed mistake.
