The Delhi High Court has delivered a blunt message to investors chasing astronomical returns—if you gamble on greed, don’t expect the law to bail you out when the scheme collapses.
In a case involving an alleged cheating racket, Justice Arun Monga questioned whether courts should become sanctuaries for those who knowingly dive into dubious money deals.
“When you hand over crores for unbelievable returns, you stop being a victim and start looking like a gambler,” the Court observed. “Every gambler knows the rule—win, and you celebrate; lose, and you pay. You cannot bet on wild promises and then rush to the Court claiming innocence.”
The case stemmed from a 2016 deal where a complainant put up ₹1.5 crore with the lure of monthly payouts at 24% per annum. When neither interest nor principal was returned, a criminal complaint followed. But the Court wasn’t convinced.
The judge noted that the dispute reeked more of failed contractual obligations dressed up as a criminal offence. The FIR, the Court said, was an abuse of legal process.
“What kind of investor expects 2% every month and still claims to be gullible? These are not returns; these are temptations,” the order stated, warning that greed often masquerades as innocence.
The Court held that the principle of “buyer beware” applied squarely in such cases. Fraudsters may deserve punishment, but reckless investors blinded by greed cannot demand sympathy.
Calling greed “a silent crime against wisdom,” the judge stressed that those who chase riches far beyond market logic should know better: “When someone promises the moon, common sense should scream scam. But greed silences reason.”
The Court also pulled up the Delhi Police for dragging its feet, pointing out that after six years, the investigation remained incomplete with no credible evidence filed. Such negligence, it said, only reinforced the decision to quash proceedings.
Closing with a warning, the judge noted: “Dreams of easy money are nothing but traps. If the returns sound too good to be true, then the price you pay is just around the corner.”
