Karnataka High Court rules police can freeze bank accounts without prior court order

The Karnataka High Court has ruled that police do not need to obtain prior permission from a magistrate to freeze bank accounts during investigations. The court observed that requiring a judicial order before freezing accounts could allow proceeds of crime to be moved electronically through multiple accounts or vanish before the procedure is completed.

Justice M Nagapratappa emphasized the importance of Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which allows police to seize property upon suspicion of a crime. The court distinguished this as a preservative measure intended to secure suspected tainted assets during an investigation, noting that such actions should not require judicial interference while the investigation is pending. The ruling highlights the need for rapid action to combat cybercrime, where funds can move through a labyrinth of accounts in seconds.