If your bank account has been frozen, seized, or had its digital banking services suspended due to a cyber crime complaint on NCRP-CFCFRMS, this guide explains the official grievance process, High Court-approved relief steps, and how to approach a court for restoration of your account.
Go to the branch where your account is held or any designated branch. Submit a written explanation of why your account was not involved in any cyber fraud. Carry identity proof, passbook, bank statements, and all supporting documents. A senior citizen, specially abled person, or terminally ill account holder may send an authorised representative.
The bank will conduct Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) as per RBI Master Directions. If convinced of the legitimacy of your credentials and transactions, the bank will submit a formal grievance on the NCRP-CFCFRMS Grievance Redressal Module within 7 calendar days, attaching your explanation and all supporting documents.
The grievance is automatically assigned to the IO or Police Officer who issued the direction for suspension of digital banking or seizure of your account. If multiple officers across different states issued directions, the grievance goes to each of them — with notification to the concerned State and District Grievance Officers.
The IO will seek any additional information required and preferably conduct verification via video conference rather than summoning you in person. The IO may also seek assistance from the police station in your area (using the CIAR module on the Samanvaya Platform) to facilitate verification without requiring you to travel.
If satisfied, the IO will direct the bank to release the seized account or re-enable digital banking services within 15 calendar days, while keeping any disputed amount on hold if needed. The decision is updated on the CFCFRMS portal and communicated to the District and State Grievance Officers. If unsatisfied, the IO must record reasons within 15 days and communicate to you by SMS/email.
If the IO does not act within 15 calendar days, the grievance is automatically notified to the District Grievance Officer on the 15th day. You may also file a manual review request within 15 calendar days of receiving the IO's decision if you are dissatisfied. The District Grievance Officer will decide within 15 more days.
If dissatisfied with the District Grievance Officer's decision to continue the seizure or suspension, you may appeal to the State Grievance Officer (rank: ADG / IG / DIG) within 15 calendar days of that decision. The State Grievance Officer reviews the full case, may seek additional details, and will pass instructions to the IO within 15 days of being notified.
At any point — even before exhausting the police-level grievance process — you or any person on your behalf can approach the jurisdictional Court for restoration of digital banking services or unfreezing of your account. Multiple High Courts across India (Himachal Pradesh, Punjab & Haryana, Madras, Guwahati, Calcutta, Sikkim) have issued orders clarifying that courts need not insist on an FIR being registered — an NCRP complaint copy is sufficient. See the High Court orders section below.
| High Court | Date | Key Directions |
|---|---|---|
| Himachal Pradesh | 26.03.2024 | Courts not to insist on FIR; cases to be disposed on basis of NCRP complaint copy + ATR by Cyber PS |
| Punjab & Haryana | 07.06.2024 | No FIR required; Action Taken Report by Cyber PS; NOC from concerned bank; restoration subject to Supurdginama + Indemnity Bond |
| Madras | 01.07.2024 | No FIR required; Magistrate to call report u/s 503 BNSS confirming nexus between frozen amount and complainant amount; restoration based on NCRP complaint copy |
| Guwahati | 04.10.2024 | No FIR required; disposal of frozen/blocked money based on police report confirming authenticity and ownership |
| Calcutta | 10.03.2025 | No FIR required; Action Taken Report; use Section 503 BNSS; restoration based on NCRP complaint copy |
| Sikkim | 01.07.2025 | Courts not to insist for FIR in NCRP complaints |
Source: MHA SOP for NCRP-CFCFRMS, Custody, Restoration of Money and Grievance Redressal (02.01.2026), Annexure-III.
First step — submit written explanation to bank; bank files on CFCFRMS. No court needed at this stage.
IO verifies and can direct bank to restore account within 15 days. Video conference based.
Two-level escalation within the police hierarchy. Each must decide in 15 days.
File application in the jurisdictional Magistrate/Sessions Court for release of frozen funds or account.
For amounts below Rs. 50,000 or linked to a single victim complaint — interim custody to victim possible.
File a writ petition challenging the freeze/seizure as arbitrary or disproportionate in the High Court.
In some cases, banks may mistakenly seize or restrict the account of the victim (the person who filed the cyber crime complaint) as a precautionary measure. If this has happened to you, the bank must release your seized account immediately on your request — as long as it does not violate any separate lawful direction. You should carry your NCRP complaint acknowledgement copy when approaching the bank. No separate grievance filing is needed in such cases.
Review requests at each level must be filed within 15 calendar days of receiving a decision. If you miss the deadline, you may lose the right to escalate within the police hierarchy and may only have recourse to the court. Given the multiple 15-day windows, act as quickly as possible at every stage. If you are unable to navigate the process, consult a cyber lawyer immediately.
Submit this written application to your bank branch requesting them to file a grievance on CFCFRMS for restoration of your account or digital banking services.
The grievance and restoration process for seized accounts and suspended digital banking services is governed by Section 10.2 of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for NCRP-CFCFRMS, Custody, Restoration of Money and Grievance Redressal, issued by MHA, GoI (02.01.2026). The power to seize accounts is derived from Section 106 of BNSS 2023 (equivalent to Section 102 of CrPC). Court-based remedies for disposal of held or seized amounts are available under Sections 497, 498, and 503 of BNSS 2023 (Sections 451, 457 CrPC). The State and District-level Grievance Officers are constituted under the SOP framework with binding timelines enforceable under the supervision of the MHA-constituted Supervisory Committee.
Rupesh Mittal is a recognised Cyber Lawyer in Hyderabad with expertise in NCRP-CFCFRMS bank freezes, account seizures, and court petitions for account restoration across India.
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