Bombay HC grants bail to four cybercrime accused

The Bombay High Court has granted bail to four individuals accused in a cybercrime case under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) after they spent over two years in jail. The court indicated that the lack of prior criminal records and the delays in the trial were significant factors in its decision. The accused include Mujid Ibrahim Kandiyal, Ragib Sharif Ahmed, Mohammad Mahindu Maniyat, and Shrikrishna Bhimanna Gaikwad. The court ruled that since their trial had not begun and could take time, continued detention was unnecessary. They were released on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 each. The case involves a gang accused of harassing and extorting money from individuals seeking loans. The group was reportedly led by Dheeraj Bhagat Punekar, who was already connected to multiple complaints of criminal activity, including threats and harassment. The prosecution claims that the gang operated by enticing victims through false online advertisements and misusing their personal information. The defense argued that the evidence presented did not directly link the accused to the crimes. They highlighted that the charges included actions attributed to other individuals, which calls into question the appropriateness of invoking MCOCA against them. The prosecution maintained that the evidence suggested a strong involvement in organized criminal activities, including selling personal data. While three of the other accused in the case received bail earlier, two remained behind bars after their bail requests were denied. The ongoing legal proceedings reflect the complexities involved in cybercrime and organized crime legislation in India.