Shimla, Nov. 4 -- Himachal Pradesh high court while holding that the blanket freezing of bank accounts in cybercrime investigations can seriously infringe an individual's right to livelihood, had directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to remove the complete debit freeze imposed on the salary account of a patwari while retaining a lien only on the disputed amount of Rs.21,000.

Justice Sandeep Sharma, while disposing of the petition filed by Shiv Singh directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to immediately lift the complete debit freeze imposed on the petitioner's salary account, while allowing the bank to maintain a lien or hold on the specific amount under investigation.

"If the investigating agency is permitted to issue blanket orders w...