MUMBAI: A Special CBI Court in Mumbai has denied bail to 19-year-old Yash Thakur, a Class XII student from Nagpur, who is accused of playing an active role in a sophisticated ₹3.7 crore cyber fraud. The court deemed him an “active member of a criminal conspiracy” and stated that his release could jeopardise the ongoing investigation, which involves foreign links and a complex money trail.
The Charges and the Alleged Role
According to the CBI, Mr. Thakur was arrested for assisting Mr. Bhaskar Palande. Investigators stated that Mr. Palande used a “mule account” to transfer the entire sum in a single day. Mr. Thakur’s alleged contribution included procuring a new SIM card for Mr. Palande, receiving a portion of the proceeds, and helping to move the funds between accounts. The court observed that the offense appeared to have been executed in a well-organised and systematic manner.
Transnational Racket with Foreign Links
Judge Phad of the Special CBI Court observed that the case “prima facie involves a transnational racket with a sophisticated modus operandi.” The investigation has uncovered that “several accused were communicating through foreign phone numbers” and that the crime proceeds were being routed to “accounts abroad.” The use of foreign links and the routing of funds through multiple mule accounts indicate a high-value cyber network fraud with deep transnational connections, according to the CBI.
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Court Rejects Innocence Plea
Mr. Thakur, who was arrested on July 9, claimed innocence in his bail plea, arguing that he had been falsely implicated and that no evidence in the chargesheet established his role or a direct connection with Mr. Palande. However, the court rejected his claim, observing that his actions “demonstrate a deeper inculpatory involvement as an active member of a criminal conspiracy rather than merely being a passive facilitator or a victim of circumstances.” The court held him guilty of having played an “active role in facilitating the scam,” alleging he used his “technical knowledge” to aid the crime.
Bail Denied to Preserve Investigation
The court made it clear that denying bail was necessary to ensure the integrity of the ongoing investigation. The judge stated that releasing the applicant—whom the court referred to as “an educated youth who allegedly used his knowledge to facilitate the crime”—could alert other conspirators and “obstruct efforts to trace the money trail.” The court concluded, “Until further investigation, particularly into the electronic evidence and foreign links, is complete, granting bail would be detrimental to the ends of justice.” His release, the court fears, could directly jeopardise the probe.
