Mrs. Habeeb A, (F/44) v. State of Tamil Nadu Rep by Its the Inspector of Police,

ORDER The petitioner, who apprehends arrest for the alleged offence under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under Section 66-D and 66-C of Information Act, 2000 in Crime No.52 of 2026 on the file of the second respondent police seeks inter-state anticipatory bail.

¶2The allegation against the petitioner is that the petitioner's late father operated a business under the name M/s.Al Noor Chicken and Mutton Center at Madipakkam, which she took over as proprietrix following his demise. One Aakash, contacted via Facebook, represented himself as operating a finance company named M/s. Zennith Finance, offering loans to entrepreneurs at low interest on simple terms. Relying on his assurances, the petitioner contacted him through her mobile phone. He promised to disburse Rs.50 lakhs within a month but required her to demonstrate sound financial transactions in her existing YES Bank current account. since the petitioner is not having sound financial transactions, Akash insisted to share her account details and ask to download "PUSH APP" from play store. After completing the procedures, the app displayed her bank statements reflecting transactions, but the petitioner could neither operate nor withdraw the funds. Upon querying the finance company, she was told these were mere demonstrative transactions. Subsequently, the bank alerted her to suspicious activity, froze her account, and she received a summons from the 2nd respondent in connection with Crime No.52 of 2026 for the offence under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of BNS and under Section 66-D and 66-C of Information Act, 2000.

¶3The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner herein has running a chicken and mutton stall at Madipakkam, and her bank account was misused by unknown persons for transacting money collected, by way of digital arrest and that she has not directly involved in this case. He further submitted that her bank account has been misused by some other accused and that she was not aware about the manner in which the occurrence had taken place. The petitioner has also been served with notice of appearance by the police and that she is ready to cooperate with the investigation. He further submitted that she is ready to appear before the concerned jurisdictional Court but seeks interim protection since there is likely to be arrested by the 2nd respondent at any point of time. Hence, he prays to grant interim inter-state anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

¶4I have also gone through the First Information Report attached with the typed set of papers which states that Crime No.52 of 2026 concerned with digital arrest, wherein senior citizen namely one Muppidi Gangadhara Venkata Visweswara Gupta, S/o. Muppidi Ramatarakam (Late) has been digitally arrested and a sum of Rs.41.43 lakhs was also been taken from him. The typed set of papers produced before me also shows that the petitioner herein has sent separate complaint to the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, alleging that her bank account has been misused and it has been frozen. She expressed her willingness and ready to cooperate with the investigation and she has also stated that on verification, she came to know about various funds have been transacted in her account.

¶5I have also gone through the other materials and connected records and I am of the view that the petitioner being a lady aged about 44 years and considering the fact that only notice were issued to the petitioner for appearance before the concerned jurisdictional police, this Court is inclined to grant interim inter-state anticipatory bail to the petitioner for a period of four weeks to enable her to move the concerned Court.

¶6Accordingly, interim inter-state anticipatory bail is granted to the petitioner for a period of four weeks, on condition that the petitioner shall surrender before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Pallavaram, within a period of seven days from the date on which the order copy is made ready and the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the said learned Magistrate. Further, within four weeks from the date of execution of bail bond, the petitioner shall approach the competent Court in Andhra Pradesh and seek appropriate relief.

¶7The order granted by this Court shall remain in force for a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order or until such time regular orders are passed by the appropriate Court, whichever, is earlier. Failure on the part of the petitioner to comply with the order within the time frame fixed by this Court, the order shall stand automatically cancelled.

¶8With the above direction, this Criminal Original Petition stand disposed of.

25.02.2026 ssi K.RAJASEKAR,J. ssi To:

1.The Judicial Magistrate, Pallavaram.

2.The Inspector of Police, S-7 Madipakkam Police Station, Chennai.

¶3The Inspector of Police, Gudlavalleru Police Station, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh.

4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. Crl.OP.No.4614 of 2026

25.02.2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 25.02.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE K. RAJASEKAR Habeeba ... Petitioner Vs. 1.State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its The Inspector of Police, S-7 Madipakkam Police Station, Chennai. 2.The Inspector of Police, Gudlavalleru Police Station, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. ... Respondents (Crime No.52 of 2026) PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Act, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on inter-state anticipatory bail in the event of arrest pending investigation in Crime No.52 of 2026 on the file of the second respondent police through the first respondent police. For Petitioner : Mr.Vimal B.Crimson For Respondent : Ms.J.R.Archana, Government Advocate (Crl.Side)