Ranchi. The Jharkhand High Court has rejected the bail plea of a Mumbai-based travel agent accused of being linked to an alleged international human trafficking and cyber fraud network. He has been accused of playing a role in a network that allegedly lured Indian youths with job offers and sent them to Thailand and Myanmar, where they were allegedly forced to participate in cybercrime and honey-trapping operations targeting US citizens.
A bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay and Justice Arun Kumar Rai heard the matter on September 14. The court referred to a large number of WhatsApp chats recovered during the investigation and observed that they indicated the accused’s alleged deep involvement in the activities under investigation. The court also noted that the case diary described how victims were allegedly sent to Thailand and Myanmar for cyber fraud and honey-trapping operations.
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The case originated from the complaint of a Class 12-pass youth from a financially disadvantaged family. According to the complaint, he was allegedly offered a job in Bangkok through Telegram with a monthly salary of ₹70,000. After accepting the offer, he received flight tickets and other travel documents through Telegram.
The youth travelled to Bangkok on October 10, 2025. He was allegedly taken by road from Thailand to Myanmar, where he came into contact with several people allegedly involved in cybercrime. According to his account, he was allegedly forced to become part of a network involved in cyber fraud and honey-trapping operations.
On October 18, 2025, the youth was detained during an operation by the Myanmar Army. He was subsequently brought back to India with the assistance of the Indian Embassy. An FIR was registered on the basis of his allegations against several people.
The travel agent was not initially named in the FIR. He was subsequently implicated on the basis of an alleged confessional statement by a co-accused. During the proceedings, he claimed that he worked as a travel agent in Mumbai and had merely booked an air ticket for a passenger. He denied any involvement in cybercrime.
His bail plea had earlier been rejected by the special court, following which he approached the High Court. During the hearing, the investigation findings and material collected by the authorities were placed before the court.
The High Court also referred to alleged financial transactions recorded in the case diary. According to the court, money transfers between the accused and another person allegedly linked to the network had emerged during the investigation.
Although the prosecution had declared the complainant youth hostile, the court noted that statements of other victims were yet to be recorded. The court considered the circumstances of the case, the digital communications recovered during the investigation and the alleged financial transactions, along with the fact that the bail plea of a co-accused had also been rejected.
The High Court declined to interfere with the special court’s decision and dismissed the travel agent’s bail plea. The investigation into the alleged international cybercrime network and the roles of other individuals connected with the case is continuing.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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