Authority: High Court (Justice Krishna Rao)

Order Date: 07 July 2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioner: Nabin Chandra Rana, operating a current account No. 0683202100001441 in the name of M/s. Maa Bhabani Jewelers, Punjab National Bank, Bhupatinagar Branch.
  • Respondents: Branch Manager, Punjab National Bank & others.
  • The account was frozen in November 2024 after the bank received a report from the Cyber Crime Police, Bangalore, alleging a disputed transaction of Rs 5,950.
  • The petitioner challenged the freeze before the Bank Ombudsman (order dated 29 May 2025) and subsequently filed writ petition WPA 5814 of 2026.
  • The bank stated it had not received any subsequent report to defreeze the account; the Cyber Crime authority had not obtained any court order under Sections 106/107 of the Banking Regulation Act.
  • The court noted that the only disputed amount shown in the account was Rs 5,950, while the actual transaction recorded was Rs 1,441 on 14 November 2024.

Final Outcome

  • The court orders Punjab National Bank to defreeze the petitioner’s current account, retaining the disputed amount of Rs 5,950 as a lien.
  • The petitioner may operate the account thereafter.
  • The order is disposed of as WPA 5814 of 2026, with provision for urgent certified copies upon request.

Topics: Banking, Legal Dispute