Digital Arrest Scam: Court Grants Bail to Man Accused of Defrauding Senior Citizen of ₹3.42 Crore
Delhi Court grants bail to Amit Sharma, accused of aiding cyber fraud against 91-year-old, noting that linked funds were frozen and refunded, and his role was limited to supplying a bank account used in the scam;
A Delhi Court has granted regular bail to Amit Sharma, an accused in a high-value “digital arrest” cyber fraud targeting a 91-year-old complainant, after noting that investigation is complete, the linked funds were frozen and refunded, and his role appears limited to supplying a bank account used in the scam.
Additional Session Judge Saurabh Partap Singh Laler allowed Sharma’s first bail plea under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 on July 21, 2025, overturning a prior rejection by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on July 14. Sharma had been in custody since April 17, 2025.
The ASJ granted Sharma bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 50,000 with one local surety of like amount, to the satisfaction of the Trial Court/Duty Magistrate.
According to the prosecution, Sharma played a key role by supplying bank account credentials for a 4% commission, enabling the transfer of Rs.1 crore to a DBS Bank account linked to Keppto Fintech Pvt. Ltd., which was then used by overseas fraudsters.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recovered incriminating WhatsApp chats and voice notes from his phone.
The Special Public Prosecutor opposed the bail plea, arguing that Sharma’s involvement posed a risk of absconding due to his multiple address changes and that his release could hinder efforts to trace other masterminds.
On the contrary, Sharma’s counsel, highlighted that the cheated amount had been frozen and refunded to the complainant, and that co-accused Hari Swargiary, with a similar role, was granted bail by the same court on July 10, 2025.
The Court also took note of Sharma’s family responsibilities, clean criminal record, and willingness to comply with conditions.
“While the offense is serious, involving cyber fraud and economic loss, the investigation is complete qua the applicant; custodial interrogation is concluded. The WhatsApp chats show his involvement limited to the current transaction, with no link to other cyber frauds. This limits the applicant's apparent involvement to the instant transaction,” the Court observed. It emphasized that bail conditions could mitigate risks of absconding or tampering with evidence.
Sharma is prohibited from leaving the country without court permission, contacting witnesses or co-accused, or engaging in any criminal activity, particularly cyber fraud. He must surrender his passport, appear at all hearings, and keep his mobile number active for monitoring.
Furthermore, the Court cautioned that any violation of these conditions would result in immediate cancellation of bail.
Accordingly, the Court disposed of the application.
Case Title: State of Delhi v. Amit Sharma
Order date: July 21, 2025
Bench: Additional Session Judge (ASJ) Saurabh Partap Singh Laler