The Delhi High Court has ruled that HDFC Bank must defreeze a Delhi resident’s bank account immediately. The court found the continued freezing of the account without any FIR, accusation, or judicial order to be arbitrary and unsustainable in law. The order was issued by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav on May 4 in response to a plea from Tushar Verma, whose account was frozen following a complaint from the Cyber Police Station in Vadodara City, Gujarat.
The petitioner informed the court that his account was frozen after receiving Rs 87,694 from his brother on November 8, 2024. The bank placed a lien of Rs 41,896.92 on January 16, 2025, based on the Cyber Police complaint. Despite no FIR against him or being summoned in any investigation, the freeze was extended to the entire remaining balance on March 22 and April 18, 2025. The respondent bank justified the freeze solely on the basis of the complaint from the Cyber Crime Police Station in Gujarat.
The Delhi High Court observed that the investigating agency failed to provide any material connecting the petitioner to any offense. Justice Kaurav emphasized that the continued freezing of the account was unjustifiable and against the law. Citing a previous ruling, the court highlighted that indiscriminate freezing of accounts of individuals not accused or suspected violates fundamental rights under the Constitution. The court underscored that freezing accounts of innocent holders affects their livelihood and daily business operations significantly.
