Mumbai: Highlighting the grave threat cybercrimes pose to the nation’s economy, a Mumbai sessions court has denied bail to Ugraram Godara, a farmer from Bikaner, accused of facilitating fraudulent transactions by providing mule bank accounts. The accounts were allegedly used to siphon off ₹7.2 lakh from a naval staffer who was duped under the pretext of a fake digital arrest.
Godara was arrested by Mumbai Police on April 8 for his alleged role in the scam. According to the prosecution, he received a commission for offering bank accounts to fraudsters, who used them to collect money from unsuspecting victims.
“The defence argued that the accused only earned ₹22,500 as commission, but in such cases, the method employed is more significant than the monetary gain,” observed the judge. “He took a day’s commission and passed on the money to the primary accused. This reflects involvement in a very serious cybercrime. If released on bail, there is a strong possibility that he may engage in similar offences.”
The case dates back to December 24, 2024, when the complainant, a Navy personnel, received a call from someone claiming to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. He was falsely informed that his bank account had been used to launder illicit money abroad in a case involving a politician. Following this, the victim was contacted over a video call by a person posing as a Delhi Police officer, who threatened him with a ‘digital arrest’ under the pretext of a pending arrest warrant.
The impersonator reportedly told the Navy staffer that the warrant could be cancelled if he transferred funds to certain bank accounts. Fearing arrest, the complainant complied and transferred ₹7.2 lakh across multiple transactions.
Investigators allege Godara provided the mule accounts used in the fraud. The scam’s alleged network included another accused who lured victims into transferring money, and Godara’s driver, Shyamsunder Rahar, who is said to have withdrawn the funds from various ATMs. After taking his own share, Rahar allegedly passed the remaining amount to Godara. Authorities also claimed that Godara has been named in other cybercrime cases under investigation.
During the bail hearing, Godara’s lawyer argued that his arrest was based on mere suspicion and urged the court to consider his personal circumstances — including the fact that he has a young daughter, is a widower, and has an aged father dependent on him.
Despite the plea, the court maintained that the offence had far-reaching implications. “Cyber frauds of this nature do not just harm individuals — they threaten the financial and economic stability of the country,” the court said while rejecting the bail application.
