Authority: Supreme Court of India, Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction

Order Date: 29 July 2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Appellant – Prashant Girishbhai Yoganandi, Sales Manager, Axis Bank; Respondent – State of Gujarat.
  • Nature of Proceeding: Criminal appeal (Criminal Appeal No. 9606/2026) against the impugned final judgment dated 23‑04‑2026 passed by the High Court of Gujarat (CRMA No. 9508/2026).
  • Allegations: While employed as Sales Manager at Axis Bank, the appellant allegedly facilitated the opening of bank accounts and assisted the prime accused in operating “mule accounts” that were used to execute a cyber‑fraud transaction.
  • Investigative Background: The appellant had appeared before the Investigating Officer. The State’s AOR, Ms. Swati Ghildiyal, indicated that further time was required to trace the money transferred to the accounts.
  • Court’s Observations:
  • The prosecution’s case is primarily based on bank account statements; therefore, custodial interrogation of the appellant was deemed unnecessary.
  • Multiple FIRs have been registered against the appellant in various other States for the same offence, but these do not constitute prima facie criminal antecedents.
  • An interim protection order was previously granted on 25 May 2026, conditional upon the appellant’s cooperation with the investigation.

Final Outcome

  • The appeal is allowed; the appellant is released on anticipatory bail.
  • Bail conditions include:
  • Mandatory appearance before the Investigating Officer every Monday between 11:00 A.M. and 02:00 P.M. until the chargesheet is filed.
  • Mandatory appearance before the trial court on all hearing dates, unless exempted.
  • Any violation of conditions permits the State or the complainant to move the jurisdictional court for cancellation of bail.
  • All pending applications, if any, are disposed of.
  • The record of proceedings notes the petition for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No. 9606/2026, IA numbers 158023/2026, 158025/2026, and 158092/2026, and the order by Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M. Pancholi granting leave and allowing the criminal appeal.

Topics: Anticipatory Bail, Cyber Fraud, Banking