Dr. Renu v. State of Karnataka and Ors.

1. Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India read with Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 („Cr.P.C.‟) has been preferred on behalf of the petitioner for defreezing of petitioner‟s bank accounts, in pursuance to registration of FIR No. 679/2023 at PS: Madanayakanahally, Bengaluru Rural District, Karnataka, under Sections 406/420/465/471 read with Section 34 IPC and Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

2. In brief, as per the case of the petitioner, she is a Doctor by profession, presently residing in Delhi and used to run an Ayurvedic clinic named as Tirupati Ayuredic Clinic. The said business was closed by her in the month of July 2023 along with relevant account (Account No.629805501306) operated in ICICI Bank, Rohini Branch. Subsequent to the closure of account, an amount of Rs. 30,500/- was received on 13.07.2023 directly in her bank account, which was found to be an anonymous transaction. The said transaction was marked by respondent No.1 as a fraudulent transaction.

3. It is further the case of the petitioner that FIR No. 679/2023, under Sections 406/420/ 465/471 read with Section 34 IPC and Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, was registered at PS: Madanayakanahally, Bengaluru Rural District, Karnataka, on complaint of one Ms. Varsha Rani, W/o Prasanth (Complainant), who stated that she is a Director of a company namely M/s. Omkar Pro Building Products Pvt. Ltd. and has been cheated by one Prakash ML (Accused No.1) and Manoj (Accused No.2) to the tune of Rs. 15,10,500/-, alongwith one Ashish Roy and Prathmesh. As per petitioner, she has no connection with any of the accused except Prathmesh, who is her son.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner received a notice under Section 41A Cr.P.C. from respondent No. 1 to join investigation in the said case and to provide explanation for the alleged transaction of Rs.30,500/- in ICICI Bank account, referred to above. Thereupon petitioner assured to rectify the transaction and reimburse the funds to the rightful source account, since the transfer was without her knowledge.

5. The grievance of the petitioner is that respondent No. 1 vide notice dated 29.11.2023 directed the Nodal Officer of IDFC Bank, wherein petitioner maintains an account, to freeze the said account, as informed to her through email dated 08.12.2023 and 09.12.2023. Similar action is stated to have been initiated by respondent No. 1 in respect of her other accounts maintained in HDFC Bank & Axis Bank.

6. Apparently, the FIR in the case stands registered in Bengaluru, but jurisdiction of this Court is sought to be invoked, since Banks of petitioner are situated in Delhi. To invoke the writ jurisdiction of this Court, reliance is placed by learned counsel for petitioner on Union of India vs. Sanjiv Chaturvedi and Ors., SLP (C) No. 530/2022 decided on 03.03.2023 by Hon‟ble Supreme Court of India.

7. In Union of India vs. Sanjiv Chaturvedi and Ors (supra), OA preferred by respondent No. 1 before Nainital Circuit Bench, CAT was transferred under Section 5/25 of Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 by Chairman, Principal Bench, Delhi to the Principal Bench, Delhi. The said order was challenged by respondent No. 1 before High Court of Uttarakhand, and the same was set aside. Aggrieved by the same, the order of High Court was challenged by Union of India by preferring SLP and it was submitted that High Court of Uttarakhand erred in entertaining the writ petition as no cause of action arose within territory of Uttarakhand High Court. Reliance was further placed upon L. Chandra Kumar vs. Union of India, (1997) 3 SCC 261 and Union of India vs. Alapan Bandyopadhyay, (2022) 3 SCC 133, wherein, it was held that decisions of tribunals created under Article 323A and 323B of the Constitution of India will be subject to scrutiny before a Division Bench of the High Court, within whose jurisdiction the Tribunal falls. On the other hand, it was contended on behalf of respondent that under Article 226(2) of the Constitution of India any High Court may exercise jurisdiction Article 226 provided a part cause of action has arisen in its jurisdiction irrespective of whether the authority or Government, which passed the order is not located within the jurisdiction of said High Court. The Hon‟ble Apex Court considering that the issue involves large number of employees and is of public importance in respect of orders passed by Chairman, CAT, Principal Bench, Delhi, directed that the same be placed for consideration of Larger Bench. Observations in this regard may be beneficially reproduced:

8. It is well settled that this Court may exercise the jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, in respect of person, authority or Government, which falls within the territory of this Court or where the cause of action arises, whether wholly or in part, within jurisdiction of this Court. However, so far as present case is concerned, it may be noticed that the FIR in question has been registered at PS: Madanayakanahally, Bengaluru Rural District, Karnataka and the cause of action arose at Bengaluru. Only the consequential action with reference to the freezing of accounts of petitioner, at Delhi, pursuant to directions issued by Investigating Agency at Bengaluru cannot be deemed to extend the jurisdiction of this Court. Petition is accordingly dismissed for want of territorial jurisdiction, with liberty to the petitioner to approach the appropriate forum / Court at Bengaluru. Nothing stated hereinabove shall tantamount to expression of opinion on the merits of the case. Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of.

ANOOP KUMAR MENDIRATTA, J. FEBRUARY 13, 2024