Ludhiana, Sept. 29 -- The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Ludhiana, has pulled up HDFC Bank for keeping a Ludhiana resident's account frozen for nearly three years after a Rs.2,038 transaction was suspected to be linked to cyber fraud, observing that the bank could have placed a lien on the disputed amount instead.

The commission has directed the bank to immediately unfreeze the account of Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Bhai Himmat Singh Nagar, and pay Rs.25,000 as composite compensation and litigation costs.

The panel also ordered the bank to pay Rs.500 per day, subject to a maximum of Rs.1 lakh, if it failed to unfreeze the account after receiving a copy of the order. The order was passed on September 25 by the commiss...