Delhi Court Denies Bail in Alleged ₹52 Lakh Online Fraud Case, Raises Questions Over Investigation

Delhi court has denied bail to a man accused of allegedly defrauding a Haryana judicial officer of more than ₹52 lakh through what appears to be an online romance scam initiated on the dating application Tinder. While rejecting the bail plea, the court also raised serious concerns about the manner in which the complaint was filed and the shortcomings in the ongoing investigation.

The case was registered on a complaint made by a domestic worker, who claimed she had been cheated of over ₹52 lakh. However, after examining bank records and financial transactions, the court found that almost the entire amount had actually been transferred from accounts belonging to a serving judicial officer in Haryana. The court observed that the domestic worker did not make any digital payments and appeared to have been used as the named complainant, while the judicial officer was the real victim.

According to the accused, he met the officer through Tinder and the two entered into a consensual relationship. He claimed that the money transfers were voluntary and linked to investments and online gaming activities. However, the court noted that the sequence of events closely resembled a typical online romance scam, where emotional trust is built quickly before substantial sums of money are extracted.

The court also criticised the accused for allegedly withholding evidence, including refusing to provide access to his mobile phone. At the same time, it highlighted major gaps in the investigation, including the failure to obtain complete Tinder records, WhatsApp conversations, and other crucial digital evidence.

Considering the large financial loss, the incomplete investigation, and the accused’s conduct, the court held that granting bail at this stage would be inappropriate and dismissed the application.