A sessions court in Mumbai has refused bail to a college student accused of orchestrating a sophisticated cyber fraud amounting to ₹4 crore, citing the gravity of the offence and the risk of tampering with evidence.
The accused, a young man reportedly in his early 20s, is alleged to have been a key operator in a well-coordinated syndicate that defrauded individuals and businesses by gaining unauthorised access to digital banking credentials and transferring large sums to mule accounts.
Investigators from the Mumbai Cyber Crime Cell told the court that the student played a “vital and technical role” in facilitating the transactions and creating fake digital infrastructure to support the scam. While the defence argued for bail on grounds of youth and the lack of prior criminal history, the prosecution stressed that granting bail at this stage could hamper ongoing investigations.
Technical Expertise Used for Illicit Gains
Authorities stated that the fraud involved the deployment of phishing links, spoofed websites, and fake payment gateways to deceive victims into sharing OTPs and banking details. Funds were then routed through layers of fake businesses and digital wallets to avoid detection.
The accused allegedly used his programming skills to design and maintain parts of the fraudulent infrastructure. The scale and organisation of the fraud have led the police to believe that the operation was not limited to Mumbai and may have nationwide or international connections.
Police are now tracking over a dozen bank accounts linked to the crime and are conducting forensic analyses of devices seized during raids at the accused’s residence and other suspected hideouts.
Judiciary Emphasises Deterrence
While denying bail, the court observed that cybercrime poses a rising threat to financial and digital integrity and that such offences require “strict and deterrent handling.” The judge noted that despite the youth of the accused, the economic implications and planning behind the offence cannot be ignored.
The case has reignited debates on how educated youth are being lured or choosing to participate in cyber fraud rings, often under the pretence of freelance work or easy money.
The accused will remain in judicial custody while investigations continue.