The Delhi High Court has refused to grant bail to Ajay Kumar Nayyar, accused of duping a businessman of ₹3.9 crore by posing as the nephew of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Justice Girish Kathpalia dismissed Nayyar’s plea on September 1, observing that the serious nature of the allegations, coupled with the possibility of adding charges carrying life imprisonment, made the case unfit for bail.
“Considering the nature and expanse of the allegations against the accused/applicant (Nayyar) coupled with the pending consideration of amendment in charge to include the offences under Section 467/471/120B IPC, punishable with life imprisonment and also keeping in mind the antecedents, at this stage, I do not find it a fit case to grant bail,” the court said.
According to the prosecution, Nayyar introduced himself as “Ajay Shah,” purportedly Amit Shah’s nephew, at the Jalandhar Gymkhana Club and promised to secure a ₹90 crore government tender for leather supplies to renovate the President’s Estate.
The complainant was shown a demand draft of ₹90 crore in his company’s name and asked to pay ₹2.5 crore as processing fees. Over multiple meetings, he allegedly paid Nayyar ₹3.9 crore through cash and RTGS transfers. Later, Nayyar presented another draft of ₹127 crore, claiming the tender value had been revised upward.
Suspicion arose, and the businessman lodged a police complaint, leading to Nayyar’s arrest in December 2021.
The prosecution opposed the bail, arguing that charges may be amended to include forgery, use of forged cheques, and conspiracy—offences punishable with life imprisonment. It added that detention for nearly four years could not outweigh the gravity of the offences.
The state also pointed out that Nayyar was allegedly involved in another cheating case, which he settled by paying ₹75 lakh.
