{"id":374515,"date":"2026-02-03T14:00:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T08:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=374515"},"modified":"2026-02-05T10:53:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T05:23:39","slug":"del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/","title":{"rendered":"Debit freezing\/attaching bank accounts without Magistrate’s order under Section 107 BNSS illegal: Delhi High Court"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Disclaimer: This has been reported after the availability of the order of the Court and not on media reports so as to give an accurate report to our readers.<\/p>\n

Delhi High Court:<\/span> In a writ petition while deciding the legality of bank account freezing under BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023<\/a>) of a business entity’s bank accounts on the basis of transactions with a third party accused of cyber fraud, in the absence of any allegation or material indicating the account holder’s complicity, a Single-Judge Bench of Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, J.<\/span>, allowed the writ petition and held that the freezing of the petitioners’ bank accounts, without Magistrate’s order under Section 107<\/a> BNSS<\/a>, was unjustified and illegal.<\/p>\n

Factual Matrix<\/h3>\n

In the instant matter, the petitioners are engaged in the business of buying and selling gold ornaments, gold bars, coins and precious stones and have been carrying on such business in compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. In July 2024, a company named Dallas E-com Infotech Private Limited (“the Customer”) approached the petitioners for the purchase of gold items. Prior to entering into any transactions, the petitioners undertook due diligence and complied with Know Your Customer (KYC) norms and the transactions were carried out through regular banking channels.<\/p>\n

Between August 2024 and March 2025, transactions aggregating to approximately ₹14,20,74,954.99\/- were conducted with the Customer. Subsequently, complaints were lodged by third parties against the Customer alleging fraud. No complaint, FIR or proceeding was registered against the petitioners.<\/p>\n

Despite this, respondent authorities issued communications to respondent banks directing that the bank accounts of petitioner 1, Malabar Gold and Diamond Ltd., be put on hold\/frozen. According to the petitioners, these directions were issued “without any verification or finding regarding the petitioners’ involvement or complicity.” No summons, notice or intimation was ever served upon the petitioners by any investigating agency.<\/p>\n

In pursuant to instructions received from police authorities, amount totalling ₹80,10,857\/- were put on hold in different accounts maintained with respondent banks in connection with a cyber fraud complaint against the Customer.<\/p>\n

Procedural History<\/h3>\n

The Court issued notice and directed filing of status reports. In its order dated 02.12.2025, the Court noted that the status report did not disclose whether there existed any direct complicity of the petitioners in the investigation. The Court directed the Respondent 4 to liaise with the concerned police authorities and file a fresh status report clarifying this aspect. No further supporting material was produced. The respondents admitted that no complaint had been registered against the petitioners and that no investigation alleged their complicity.<\/p>\n

Moot Points<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. \n

    Whether the freezing of the petitioners’ bank accounts without any allegation of their complicity was lawful?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Whether police authorities could debit-freeze bank accounts under Section 106<\/a> of the BNSS<\/a>?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Whether such freezing violated the petitioners’ fundamental rights under Articles 19(1)(g)<\/a> and 21<\/a> of the Constitution<\/a>?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Court’s Analysis<\/h3>\n

    The Court examined Sections 106<\/a> and 107<\/a> of the BNSS<\/a> and noted that Section 106 relates to seizure of property for evidentiary purposes, whereas Section 107 deals with attachment, forfeiture and restoration of property and requires orders of a Magistrate.<\/p>\n

    The Court relied on Headstar Global (P) Ltd.<\/span> v. State of Kerala<\/span>, 2025 SCC OnLine Ker 3546<\/a>; Kartik Yogeshwar Chatur<\/span> v. Union of India<\/span>, 2025 SCC OnLine Bom 4778<\/a> and Neelkanth Pharma Logistics (P) Ltd<\/span>. v. Union of India<\/span>, 2025 SCC OnLine Del 1055<\/a>, where it was held that “an Investigating Agency has no power to debit freeze or attach a bank account under Section 106<\/a> of the BNSS<\/a>” and that attachment can only be ordered under Section 107 by a competent Magistrate.<\/p>\n

    The Court held that merely because offences may have been committed by the Customer, the same could not “by itself constitute a lawful basis for a unilateral freezing or withholding of the petitioners’ bank accounts.”<\/span> The Court asserted that the petitioners were “at the very least, entitled to be informed of the reasons for freezing their bank accounts.”<\/span><\/p>\n

    The Court reiterated that Section 106 empowers police officers only to seize property for evidentiary purposes and does not confer authority to attach or debit-freeze bank accounts. Attachment is a distinct power exercisable only under Section 107 after following due procedure.<\/p>\n

    “It is fairly trite now that Section 106<\/a> of the BNSS<\/a> empowers the police only to seize property for evidentiary purposes and does not confer any authority to attach or debit-freeze bank accounts. Attachment or freezing of bank accounts, being measures directed at securing alleged proceeds of crime, can be undertaken only under Section 107<\/a> of the BNSS<\/a> and strictly upon orders of a competent Magistrate, after following the prescribed procedural safeguards.”<\/p>\n

    Relying on Neelkanth Pharma Logistics<\/span> (Supra), the Court observed that freezing an entire bank account merely because a small amount alleged to be proceeds of crime had passed through it was “a disproportionate and arbitrary exercise of power,” particularly when the account holder was “neither an accused nor even a suspect.”<\/p>\n

    The Court further noted that “innocent and unwary account holders cannot be made to suffer merely because proceeds of crime may have temporarily passed through their accounts, unless investigation reveals their complicity or conscious receipt of such funds.”<\/span><\/p>\n

    The Court noted that the respondents admitted that no complaint existed against the petitioners, and no material demonstrated their complicity. The Court further noted that the continued freezing had disabled petitioner 1 from paying salaries and meeting day-to-day business expenses, thereby paralysing its business operations. The Court held that such action, which encompass the right to livelihood and freedom to carry on trade and business, to be violative of Articles 19(1)(g)<\/a> and 21<\/a> of the Constitution<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Court’s Decision<\/h3>\n

    The Court held that Police authorities have no power under Section 106<\/a> of the BNSS<\/a> to debit-freeze or attach bank accounts. Freezing or attachment of bank accounts can be done only under Section 107 upon orders of a competent Magistrate. Blanket freezing of accounts of persons who are neither accused nor suspects is arbitrary, disproportionate and violative of Articles 19(1)(g)<\/a> and 21<\/a> of the Constitution<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    The Court allowed the writ petition and issued the following directions —<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n

      Respondent 4 was directed to forthwith issue appropriate directions to respondent banks to defreeze the petitioners’ bank accounts.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    2. \n

      Investigating agencies were granted liberty to proceed against the petitioners strictly in accordance with law if material indicating complicity was found.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    3. \n

      In the event of discovery of “positive and specific material indicating the petitioners’ complicity,” fresh directions could be issued in accordance with law.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      [Malabar Gold and Diamond Ltd.<\/span> v. Union of India<\/span>, 2026 SCC OnLine Del 297<\/a>, Decided on 16-01-2026<\/span>]<\/p>\n\n

      Advocates who appeared in this case:<\/p>\n

      Mr. Abhimanyu Bhandari, Sr. Advocate with Ms. Surabhi Khattar, Mr. Shivansh Vishwakarma and Mr. Sriharsh Raj, Counsel for the Petitioners<\/p>\n

      Mr. P S Singh, CGSC with Ms Minakshi Singh and Mr. Ashutosh Bharti, Counsel for the Respondent 1<\/p>\n

      Mr. Rajiv Kapur, SC for SBI with Mr. Akshit Kapur, AOR, Counsel for the Respondent 2<\/p>\n

      Mr. Amol Sharma, Counsel for the Respondent 3<\/p>\n

      Buy Constitution of India  HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n

      \"Constitution<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Blanket freezing of accounts of persons who are neither accused nor suspects is arbitrary, disproportionate and violative of Articles 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution of India.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67514,"featured_media":374527,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[36447,13681,98057,79614,68319,98056,98061,2543,98060,69458,98058,98059,26784,93734,93735],"class_list":["post-374515","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casebriefs","category-highcourts","tag-article-191g","tag-article-21","tag-attachment-of-bank-accounts","tag-bank-account-freezing","tag-bnss-2023","tag-cyber-fraud-transactions","tag-debit-freeze-legality","tag-Delhi_High_Court","tag-financial-investigation","tag-justice-purushaindra-kumar-kaurav","tag-malabar-gold-case","tag-powers-of-police","tag-proceeds-of-crime","tag-section-106-bnss","tag-section-107-bnss"],"yoast_head":"\nDel HC on legality of bank account freezing under BNSS | SCC Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"On legality of bank account freezing under BNSS, Delhi High Court held that police have no power under Section 106 BNSS to debit-freeze bank accounts and that attachment can be ordered only under Section 107 by a Magistrate.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Debit freezing\/attaching bank accounts without Magistrate's order under Section 107 BNSS illegal: Delhi High Court\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"On legality of bank account freezing under BNSS, Delhi High Court held that police have no power under Section 106 BNSS to debit-freeze bank accounts and that attachment can be ordered only under Section 107 by a Magistrate.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SCC Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/scc.online\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-03T08:30:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-05T05:23:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bank-account-freezing-under-BNSS.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"533\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ritu\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Debit freezing\/attaching bank accounts without Magistrate's order under Section 107 BNSS illegal: Delhi High Court\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ritu\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/\",\"name\":\"Del HC on legality of bank account freezing under BNSS | SCC Times\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bank-account-freezing-under-BNSS.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-03T08:30:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-05T05:23:39+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/392f265bae2f48f0f0d02b8e0e9015b9\"},\"description\":\"On legality of bank account freezing under BNSS, Delhi High Court held that police have no power under Section 106 BNSS to debit-freeze bank accounts and that attachment can be ordered only under Section 107 by a Magistrate.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bank-account-freezing-under-BNSS.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bank-account-freezing-under-BNSS.webp\",\"width\":800,\"height\":533,\"caption\":\"bank account freezing under BNSS\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Debit freezing\/attaching bank accounts without Magistrate’s order under Section 107 BNSS illegal: Delhi High Court\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"SCC Times\",\"description\":\"Bringing you the Best Analytical Legal News\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/392f265bae2f48f0f0d02b8e0e9015b9\",\"name\":\"Ritu\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c47318594774c1fe55e3e8c85dcd1909276373d9bf11730032fc1a7d05d56a47?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c47318594774c1fe55e3e8c85dcd1909276373d9bf11730032fc1a7d05d56a47?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Ritu\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/author\/editor_7\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Del HC on legality of bank account freezing under BNSS | SCC Times","description":"On legality of bank account freezing under BNSS, Delhi High Court held that police have no power under Section 106 BNSS to debit-freeze bank accounts and that attachment can be ordered only under Section 107 by a Magistrate.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Debit freezing\/attaching bank accounts without Magistrate's order under Section 107 BNSS illegal: Delhi High Court","og_description":"On legality of bank account freezing under BNSS, Delhi High Court held that police have no power under Section 106 BNSS to debit-freeze bank accounts and that attachment can be ordered only under Section 107 by a Magistrate.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/","og_site_name":"SCC Times","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/scc.online\/","article_published_time":"2026-02-03T08:30:11+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-02-05T05:23:39+00:00","og_image":[{"width":800,"height":533,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bank-account-freezing-under-BNSS.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Ritu","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Debit freezing\/attaching bank accounts without Magistrate's order under Section 107 BNSS illegal: Delhi High Court","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Ritu","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/","name":"Del HC on legality of bank account freezing under BNSS | SCC Times","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bank-account-freezing-under-BNSS.webp","datePublished":"2026-02-03T08:30:11+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-05T05:23:39+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/392f265bae2f48f0f0d02b8e0e9015b9"},"description":"On legality of bank account freezing under BNSS, Delhi High Court held that police have no power under Section 106 BNSS to debit-freeze bank accounts and that attachment can be ordered only under Section 107 by a Magistrate.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bank-account-freezing-under-BNSS.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bank-account-freezing-under-BNSS.webp","width":800,"height":533,"caption":"bank account freezing under BNSS"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/03\/del-hc-on-legality-of-bank-account-freezing-under-bnss\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Debit freezing\/attaching bank accounts without Magistrate’s order under Section 107 BNSS illegal: Delhi High Court"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/","name":"SCC Times","description":"Bringing you the Best Analytical Legal News","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/392f265bae2f48f0f0d02b8e0e9015b9","name":"Ritu","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c47318594774c1fe55e3e8c85dcd1909276373d9bf11730032fc1a7d05d56a47?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c47318594774c1fe55e3e8c85dcd1909276373d9bf11730032fc1a7d05d56a47?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Ritu"},"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/author\/editor_7\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bank-account-freezing-under-BNSS.webp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":379182,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/03\/24\/delhi-court-illegal-freezing-of-bank-accounts-bnss-usd-40-million-international-cyber-fraud\/","url_meta":{"origin":374515,"position":0},"title":"Delhi Court directs de-freezing of bank accounts in USD 40 million international cyber fraud case; explains scope of Sections 106 & 107 BNSS","author":"Sonali Ahuja","date":"March 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Rouse Avenue Court underscores that freezing of bank accounts requires a direct link to the alleged offence and strict compliance with BNSS procedures.","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"freezing of bank accounts","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/freezing-of-bank-accounts.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/freezing-of-bank-accounts.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/freezing-of-bank-accounts.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/freezing-of-bank-accounts.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":368296,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/01\/investigating-agency-cannot-debit-freeze-account-u-s-106-bnss-bom-hc\/","url_meta":{"origin":374515,"position":1},"title":"Read why Bombay HC held Investigating Agency cannot debit freeze bank accounts involved in cyber fraud under S. 106 BNSS","author":"Editor","date":"December 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThe banks or other intermediaries are empowered only to place the disputed amount under lien and are not authorized to impose a debit freeze on accounts unless there is a specific order to that effect passed by a competent authority.\u201d","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"debit freeze account under S. 106 BNSS","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/debit-freeze-account-under-S.-106-BNSS.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/debit-freeze-account-under-S.-106-BNSS.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/debit-freeze-account-under-S.-106-BNSS.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/debit-freeze-account-under-S.-106-BNSS.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":342609,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/03\/01\/delhi-high-court-freezing-bank-accounts-cyber-crime-policy-reform-legal-news\/","url_meta":{"origin":374515,"position":2},"title":"Delhi HC slams indiscriminate freezing of bank accounts; Calls for policy reform in cyber-crime investigations","author":"Arunima","date":"March 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The possibility of marking a lien on disputed amount, whenever it is identifiable, should be explored as a more appropriate interim measure. Ideally, it should be the first and foremost option.","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Delhi High Court","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Delhi-High-Court.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Delhi-High-Court.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Delhi-High-Court.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Delhi-High-Court.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":337136,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/12\/12\/zero-fir-purpose-is-to-ensure-filing-complaints-regardless-of-jurisdiction-kerala-hc\/","url_meta":{"origin":374515,"position":3},"title":"Purpose of Zero FIR under BNSS is to ensure victims can file complaints regardless of jurisdiction: Kerala HC directs Magistrate to reconsider DBS Bank application to register FIR","author":"Editor","date":"December 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cUnder Section 173(1) of BNSS, the police cannot refuse to register an FIR on the ground of \u201cnot having territorial jurisdiction\u201d over the offence for the reason that some part of the offence was committed outside the local jurisdiction of that concerned police station.\u201d","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Kerala High Court","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Kerala-High-Court-1.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Kerala-High-Court-1.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Kerala-High-Court-1.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Kerala-High-Court-1.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":253989,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2021\/09\/10\/kar-hc-freezing-of-bank-accounts-by-investigating-authorities-would-adversely-affect-right-to-life-under-art-21-of-the-constitution-of-india\/","url_meta":{"origin":374515,"position":4},"title":"Kar HC | Freezing of Bank accounts by investigating authorities would adversely affect right to life under Art. 21 of the Constitution of India","author":"Editor","date":"September 10, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Karnataka High Court: Mohammad Nawaz J. allowed the petition and defreezes the bank accounts subject to a bank guarantee. The facts of the case are such that the complainant filed a complaint against the petitioner that the money she has been cheated of was deposited is petitioner\u2019s account which is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":380473,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/04\/08\/cognizance-under-bnss-del-hc-flags-conflict-refers-issue\/","url_meta":{"origin":374515,"position":5},"title":"Delhi HC Raises Key Question on BNSS Cognizance, Seeks Larger Bench Clarity","author":"Prarthana Gupta","date":"April 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The host and owner of the InControversial podcast had filed a petition for quashing of proceedings under a criminal defamation complaint.","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"BNSS 2023 cognizance interpretation","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BNSS-2023-cognizance-interpretation.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BNSS-2023-cognizance-interpretation.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BNSS-2023-cognizance-interpretation.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BNSS-2023-cognizance-interpretation.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/374515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67514"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=374515"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/374515\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/374527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=374515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=374515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=374515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}