Online marketplace duping: 3 granted bail

One-liner: The Delhi HC has granted bail to three persons accused of duping a seller on an online marketplace, stating that while online cheating and fraud have become rampant, it can't remiss in performing its duty of upholding liberty.

Judge's warning: The judge warned the three accused not to indulge in the same offence again and ordered that their bail would be subject to furnishing bail bonds of ₹25K with the two sureties of the like amount.

• The judge stated that since the investigation was complete and the charge sheet stood filed, no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioners in further custody
• The court directed the petitioners to report to the police station concerned twice a week and not tamper with evidence or influence the witnesses

Need to know: In the present case, the complainant alleged that she had uploaded certain articles for sale on an online platform but was duped by the petitioners into transferring ₹34K to them through online payment mode.

Charge sheet filed: After the FIR, a charge sheet was filed against the petitioners for the commission of offences under the Indian Penal Code, including forgery, and Section 66D (cheating by personation by using computer resource).

• The trial court had rejected the petitioners' bail applications on the ground that they were accused of embezzlement and used clever devices to cheat many innocent persons on the internet
• The prosecution opposed the bail before the HC saying the petitioners are accused of executing the crime in a very organised way and the charge of forgery prescribes a punishment of 10 years extending up to life imprisonment

Bail sought: The petitioners sought bail on the grounds that they have been in custody for 10 months and their further custodial interrogation was not required. 

Source: PTI