If your bank account has been placed on hold and you are a genuine account holder, know how the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre have issued a clear Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure transparency, defined timelines, and protection of citizens’ rights when accounts are frozen due to suspected cyber fraud.

This process is meant to protect innocent citizens while investigations are conducted.

What genuine account holders should know:
•The bank must review and upload findings within 7 days
•The Investigating Officer must take a decision within 15 calendar days
•If no decision is made, escalation to a District Grievance Officer happens automatically
•You have the right to file a Review Request within 15 days
•A hold order is valid for 90 days, after which defined procedures apply

If your funds are legitimately yours and you are cooperating with the investigation, there is a structured legal process in place.