Supreme Court Grants Shaadi.com Founder Anupam Mittal Protection From Arrest In Fraud Case; Remits Matter To High Court For Fresh Consideration
The Court was hearing a plea by Anupam Mittal assailing a criminal case over the alleged failure of the website to verify details of a man who allegedly used the matrimonial website to defraud a woman.
The Supreme Court, while granting protection from arrest, has set aside a Telangana High Court order refusing to quash the proceedings against Anupam Mittal, Founder of Shaadi.com and sent the matter back to the High Court for fresh consideration.
The Court was hearing a plea by Anupam Mittal, Founder of Shaadi.com, challenging a criminal case over the alleged failure of the website to verify details of a man who allegedly used the matrimonial website to defraud a woman. The criminal case originated from a complaint filed by a woman in Hyderabad who alleged she was defrauded of ₹11 lakh by a man she met on Shaadi.com.
The Bench of Justice P.K. Mishra and Justice N.V. Anjaria ordered, "The impugned order passed by the High Court has not recorded any submissions on the merits of the quashing. The only submission made by the Counsel for the Petitioner is recorded hereunder...When the matter was argued today, Shri Nadkarni submitted that the Petitioners have argued the quashing petition on merits...Since the quashing petition has not been decided on merits, we set aside the impugned order and remit the matter to the High Court for consideration on merits. Accordingly, the criminal cases are restored to their original file. The same shall be dealt with by the High Court on its merits. Further, we would like to clarify that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits. In the meanwhile, the Petitioner shall make a prayer for interim relief before the High Court. For a period of eight weeks from today, no coercive steps are to be taken against the Petitioner."
Senior Advocate Atmaram Nadkarni appeared for Anupam Mittal.
Nadkarni argued that Shaadi.com acted solely as a matchmaker and that Mittal, as the Managing Director, should not be held personally liable. He submitted that while one employee was previously arrested and released on bail, the accusations of cheating and non-compliance with Section 79 of the IT Act were misplaced.
The Court remarked that the platform facilitated the fraud. Nadkarni countered that the platform only facilitated the initial matching and pointed out that the individuals involved had communicated privately via WhatsApp.
The Supreme Court on June 26, 2025, stayed the proceedings in the criminal case filed against Anupam Mittal.
Previously, the Telangana High Court refused to quash the FIR registered against Mittal and two others, Vignesh and Satish, named as accused in the case.
Cause Title: Vignesh and Anr. v. State of Telangana & Ors. [SLP (Crl.) 9362/2025] and Anupam Mittal v. State of Telangana & Ors. [SLP (Crl.) 9356/2025]