Greater Noida: Two policemen have been suspended after a departmental inquiry found negligence in a cybercrime investigation in Bisrakh, where an allegedly unrelated person’s bank account was frozen instead of the suspicious account identified in the case. Cyber Inspector Devender Kumar and Sub-Inspector Muninder Singh were suspended after authorities found that the account details were not properly verified and that no timely action was taken to de-freeze the account even after the error was brought to their attention.
The case arose during the investigation of a cybercrime matter at Bisrakh Kotwali. Police had moved to freeze a bank account believed to be linked to suspicious transactions. However, the account that was frozen allegedly belonged to another person who had no connection with the case.
Account Holder Complained, but Freeze Was Not Lifted
After discovering that his bank account had been frozen, the account holder approached the concerned policemen and informed them that his account was different from the one under investigation.
Despite this, the account allegedly remained frozen and no immediate corrective action was taken. The prolonged restriction affected the account holder’s access to his money and caused financial and mental difficulties.
Unable to obtain relief from the police, the account holder eventually approached the Allahabad High Court and filed a petition challenging the continued freeze.
The matter raised questions over the process followed while identifying and verifying bank accounts before restrictions are imposed in cybercrime investigations.
Departmental Inquiry Finds Negligence in Verification
After the issue came to light, the police department conducted an inquiry into the handling of the case.
The inquiry reportedly found negligence at multiple stages, including failure to properly verify the bank account details before freezing the account. It also found that necessary steps were not taken to correct the mistake after the account holder informed the police.
On the basis of these findings, Cyber Inspector Devender Kumar and Sub-Inspector Muninder Singh were suspended.
The case highlights the importance of careful verification before freezing bank accounts in cybercrime investigations, where a mistake can directly affect an uninvolved person’s access to funds and routine financial transactions.
Wrongful Freeze Raises Questions Over Cybercrime Procedures
Freezing bank accounts is commonly used in cybercrime investigations to prevent suspected funds from being transferred or withdrawn. However, such action requires accurate identification of the account linked to the alleged offence.
If an unrelated account is mistakenly frozen, prompt verification and corrective action become essential to prevent unnecessary hardship to the account holder.
In this case, the account holder reportedly had to approach the High Court after failing to obtain relief despite informing the police about the alleged error.
The suspension of the two policemen has now brought renewed attention to verification procedures followed during cybercrime investigations and the need for timely action when mistakes involving bank-account restrictions are identified.
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.
