NEW DELHI (3 March 2026) — A Delhi court has dismissed the bail application of Nitin Birmal Dongre, the alleged mastermind behind a sophisticated ₹8.94 crore bank fraud. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Shunali Gupta, in an order dated February 28, ruled that the gravity of the offense and the systematic nature of the conspiracy precluded the grant of bail at this stage.
The Nature of the Fraud
The case, investigated by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) South, involves a complex scheme of identity theft and unauthorized withdrawals.
- Layered Transactions: The prosecution argued that Dongre orchestrated the siphoning of ₹8.94 crores from the complainant’s bank account through a series of “layered transactions” designed to obscure the money trail.
- Systemic Forgery: The accused allegedly used forged documents and personation to gain control over the targeted funds.
- Ongoing Investigation: The court noted that while Dongre is in custody, two other key accomplices involved in the conspiracy are still absconding.
Legal Charges under BNS
This case is notable for the application of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the new penal code that replaced the IPC. Dongre has been charged under:
| BNS Section | Offence Description |
| 318(4) | Cheating of valuable security |
| 319(2) | Cheating by personation |
| 316(4) | Criminal breach of trust |
| 336(3) | Forgery |
| 338 | Forgery of valuable security |
| 340(2) | Fraudulent use of forged documents |
| 61(2) | Criminal conspiracy |
Judicial Reasoning for Bail Rejection
Judge Shunali Gupta emphasized that economic offenses constitute a “class apart” due to their impact on the financial health of the community.
“Considering the seriousness and gravity of the offence, the systematic manner in which huge amount of Rs 8.94 crores has been withdrawn… wherein the applicant was a kingpin and two other persons… are yet to be arrested, at this stage, I do not find any ground for grant of bail.” — ASJ Shunali Gupta
The court expressed concern that if released, the “kingpin” could potentially influence witnesses or coordinate with the absconding suspects to tamper with the remaining evidence.
Sources
- Press Trust of India (PTI): “Delhi court rejects bail plea of alleged kingpin in bank fraud case” (March 3, 2026)
- The Week: “₹8.94 cr bank fraud: Delhi court dismisses bail plea of ‘kingpin’” (March 3, 2026)
- Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Delhi: Official Case Briefing – FIR No. 442/2025 (February 2026)
- Bar & Bench: “BNS Charges Applied: Delhi Court Denies Bail in ₹8.9 crore Banking Scam” (March 4, 2026)
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