HC ensures dignity for elderly cyber fraud victim, orders premium lodging by state

Jaipur: Underscoring the necessity for dignity and protection of vulnerable individuals who have fallen victim to crimes, the Rajasthan High Court has directed the state govt to arrange high-quality boarding and lodging for an 83-year-old woman at the center of an ₹80 lakh cyber fraud case.The order came during a matter heard Wednesday by the single bench of Justice Sameer Jain, who emphasised the requirement for the Director General of Police and the Superintendent of Police for cybercrime to attend the next hearing via video conferencing. The bench is scheduled to reconvene Friday to further address the matter and the public prosecutor has been asked to place the complete case record before the court. The directive followed the filing of a second bail application by the accused, Naveen Temani, amid claims of an alleged settlement in the matter. During the previous hearing, the elderly complainant, who appeared in a wheelchair and lives alone in Ajmer, expressed her distress saying she feels compelled to accept a settlement of ₹10 lakh, an amount far less than the sum she had lost. She articulated her frustration at the protracted nature of the investigation and the ongoing sense of injustice she felt. She described herself as a victim of a serious "white-collar cybercrime". Justice Jain was moved by her situation, noting that the case had "shocked the conscience" of the court and expressed concern regarding the investigation's handling. Given that the complainant is a resident of Ajmer and travels to Jaipur for court hearings, the single bench mandated that if she opts to stay in Jaipur during the proceedings, her accommodations must be of the highest standard, with all expenses covered by the state govt. The court made it clear that any failure to provide adequate care and facilities for the victim would be treated with seriousness.