₹3.25 lakh stuck due to a wrong number; High Court orders bank to reimburse the amount

The Karnataka High Court ordered a bank to return ₹3.25 lakh to a woman after the amount was transferred to the wrong account. The woman had entered the wrong account number while attempting to send the money to her father. She received relief from the court after seven months.

The Karnataka High Court directed Federal Bank to return ₹3.25 lakh to the woman. She explained that she had intended to transfer the funds to her father via RTGS but entered an incorrect code, causing the money to be deposited into someone else's bank account.

What was the case about?

The case involves Nujouba Jalil, a resident of Karnataka. On December 17, 2025, Nujouba attempted to send funds to her father via RTGS; however, due to entering the wrong last four digits, the money was transferred to the bank account of a firm named 'Standard Engineering Works.' The owner of the account that received the funds could not be traced.

Approaching the RBI for help

When Nujouba failed to find a satisfactory resolution elsewhere, she approached the RBI. Unfortunately, her request was rejected there as well. The RBI maintained that the money could not be recovered without the consent of the account holder who had received the funds.

What was the court's verdict?

With all other avenues exhausted, the woman decided to move the Karnataka High Court. During the proceedings, it was noted that the recipient of the funds was untraceable and there was a risk of the money being misused. The woman argued that being deprived of her funds constituted a violation of her rights under Article 300A of the Constitution.

The court ordered the bank to transfer the amount back to the woman's account. The court noted that the notice sent to Standard Engineering Works had been returned undelivered, and the person into whose account the funds had been transferred could not be contacted. Subsequently, Justice CM Poonacha ordered the bank to pay ₹3.25 lakh.