Aatif Qayoom
The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in Srinagar has denied bail to Gurpreet Singh, the prime accused in a digital fraud case that resulted in the defrauding of a senior citizen of ₹21 lakh. The court’s ruling, made on December 30, comes in light of the seriousness of the cybercrime involved, which was aimed at laundering illicit funds through a “mule account.”
The case, registered under FIR No. 26/2024 at the Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone, outlines a disturbing scheme in which the victim, an elderly individual, was tricked into prematurely closing fixed deposits worth ₹21 lakh. The accused allegedly manipulated the victim into transferring the money under false pretenses, which was later funneled through a mule account designed to obscure the illicit origins of the funds.
During the hearing, the court reviewed significant evidence that implicated the accused in the operation of fraudulent transactions. In his ruling, Chief Judicial Magistrate Adil Mushtaq Ahmad observed, “Cybercrimes like this are calculated and deliberate acts that exploit victims for personal gain, leaving them financially and emotionally devastated. The collective interest of society outweighs the individual liberty of the accused in such cases.”
The court further stated the serious threat posed by economic crimes, which undermine public trust and financial stability. Referencing landmark Supreme Court judgments, the judge highlighted the need for a stringent approach in cases of economic offenses due to their complex and wide-reaching effects.
Assistant Public Prosecutor Mohammad Lateef presented a compelling case, detailing how the accused coordinated with accomplices to disguise the illegal origins of the funds. He also underscored the psychological and financial toll on the victim, stressing the need for severe action against cyber criminals.
