Summary: On February 4, 2026, the Delhi High Court, led by Judge Girish Kathpalia, refused to allow Pankaj Mundotiya to avoid arrest before trial in a cyber fraud case involving multiple states.
On June 11, 2024, Anil Kumar Meena reported being tricked by Ravi Singh through a college WhatsApp group. Meena invested ₹16,56,000, which led to a police report after initial checks. The investigation revealed a complicated web of online fraud, with Pankaj Mundotiya allegedly gaining from the scam.
The investigation showed that Pankaj Mundotiya's company bank account received over ₹13,00,000 between May 6-9, 2024. This money was quickly moved through multiple transactions, raising suspicions. Further, the account was linked to five more fraud complaints from Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka, indicating a wide network.
Pankaj Mundotiya's lawyer argued that he didn't know about the fraud and had returned ₹30,000 to the person who complained. They claimed Mundotiya was a victim, not the one responsible, for the cyber fraud.
The prosecutor opposed bail, pointing out Pankaj Mundotiya's failure to work with the investigation even after being informed. They stressed that allowing him to avoid arrest could interfere with the investigation because of the crime's large scale.
Judge Girish Kathpalia noted the need for questioning Pankaj Mundotiya in custody due to the crime's complexity and his lack of cooperation. The court decided that allowing him to avoid arrest wasn't right in this situation.
"In view of the crime's nature and expanse, granting anticipatory bail would not be appropriate." - Judge Girish Kathpalia
The court turned down the request to avoid arrest, emphasizing the importance of a thorough investigation to uncover the widespread fraud network. The case highlights the difficulties of dealing with advanced cyber crimes across several states.
